Autism Teaching Strategies from Temple Grandin

Note: This blog post contains resources from our TpT store and our Amazon Associate store.

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Autism help from someone with autism.  This is an amazing video. Temple Grandin offers advice, tips, strategies and more!

Watch Video HERE

Temple Grandin is a very vocal member of the autism community. She was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, and through her mother’s support and proactive treatment and thinking she has gone on to become a very respected animal science professional, as well as an autism rights activist. In this video, she explains her thoughts on the disorder, her various ideas on future treatment, and overall perceptions of autism.

Read more at http://autismawarenesspage.com/temple-grandin-tells-all/#sLw6KaXGo2FZShvI.99

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Here is another video where she discusses what is feels like to have autism.

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You may also like these autism and special education resources from our TpT store:

For a checklist of 175+ accommodations, click the picture:

To implement a plan of action:

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You may also like these autism resources from our Amazon Affiliate store:

The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed

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Temple Grandin DVD Movie

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Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism

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The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's: 32 New Subject Revised & Expanded 4th Edition

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Different . . . Not Less: Inspiring Stories of Achievement and Successful Employment from Adults with Autism, Asperger's, and ADHD

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Please click HERE to see more books and resources from my Amazon store. I've searched for the best-selling and/or highest rated teaching resources for you! (I earn a small commission.)



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Click HERE to view our Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store.

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find great resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

Thanksgiving Classroom Activities and Printables

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Here are some great activities, games and printables for kids.

Note: This blog post contains resources from our TpT store and our Amazon Associate store.

Brain Break - Start DANCING!

A Turkey Dance

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Ten Facts About Thanksgiving

Use these for story starters or research topics.

Here are 10 fun, kid-friendly facts about Thanksgiving:

1. Thanksgiving started long ago: The first Thanksgiving feast took place in 1621 when the Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest with the Wampanoag Native Americans.

2. Turkey wasn’t the main dish: The original Thanksgiving feast likely included deer, seafood, and seasonal vegetables, rather than the turkey we traditionally eat today.

3. Turkey Day trivia: Around 46 million turkeys are cooked in the United States each Thanksgiving.

4. Thanksgiving became a national holiday: Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, to bring Americans together.

5. Parades are a Thanksgiving tradition: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924, making it nearly 100 years old. Today, it includes giant balloons, floats, and marching bands.

6. The wishbone tradition: Breaking the wishbone from a turkey is thought to bring good luck. Two people each hold a side of the bone, make a wish, and pull—the person with the larger piece is said to have their wish come true.

7. A president "pardons" a turkey: Each year, the U.S. president "pardons" a live turkey, sparing it from being eaten and sending it to a farm instead.

8. Black Friday follows Thanksgiving: The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is the busiest shopping day of the year, with lots of people looking for great deals.

9. Pumpkin pie is a favorite: While pumpkin pie is a classic Thanksgiving dessert today, it wasn’t on the menu for the first Thanksgiving. Pilgrims didn’t have sugar for making pies!

10. A special kind of corn: Indian corn, with its bright colors, is often used as a decoration during Thanksgiving because it represents the harvest and Native American contributions to the feast.

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Thanksgiving Collage Ideas

1. Handprint Turkey Collage: Each student traces their hand on a piece of paper and writes something they’re thankful for on each finger. The thumb can be the turkey’s head, and the fingers are the feathers. Collect all the handprints and arrange them on a board to create a giant "thankful turkey."

2. Thankful Tree Collage: Create a large tree trunk on a wall or bulletin board and give each student a colorful paper leaf to write what they’re thankful for. Attach all the leaves to make a “thankful tree” with branches filled with gratitude.

3. Photo Collage: Have students bring in small photos of things or people they're thankful for, such as family, pets, and friends. They can glue these onto a poster or a large heart shape labeled “I am thankful for…” to create a heartfelt and personalized collage.

4. "Thankful Quilt" Paper Squares: Give each student a small square piece of construction paper to draw or write something they are thankful for. Arrange all the squares into a patchwork quilt on a large board, mimicking the look of a cozy quilt of gratitude.

5. Nature Collage: Collect leaves, pinecones, acorns, and other natural items. Kids can glue these onto a paper or canvas and write or draw what they're thankful for among the nature elements, creating a beautiful, earthy display of thanks.

6. Magazine Collage: Set out old magazines and have students cut out pictures or words that represent what they’re thankful for. They can glue these onto a large poster to create a colorful, mixed-media collage filled with images of food, family, friends, and fun activities.

7. Gratitude Garland: Give each child a paper shape (leaf, feather, heart, or star) to write or draw what they’re thankful for. String these shapes together to make a “thankful garland” that can be displayed around the room.

8. Sunshine of Thanks: Draw a large sun on a bulletin board with “I am thankful for…” in the center. Each student can add a “ray” with something they’re thankful for, creating a radiant sunshine filled with gratitude.

9. Thankful Rainbow: Cut out strips of colored paper (like a rainbow) and ask each student to write what they're thankful for on a strip. Arrange the strips in rainbow order to make a “thankful rainbow” collage.

10. "Thankful Hearts" Wall: Give each child a paper heart to write something they’re thankful for. Hang all the hearts on a board or wall to create a collage of colorful hearts, reminding everyone of the things that warm their hearts during Thanksgiving.

These collages are creative, interactive ways to help kids reflect on what they appreciate and add a festive touch to the Thanksgiving season!

You may also like these printable Thanksgiving activities from our TpT store:

#1 Best Seller

Thanksgiving Foldable Card

Students will draw or write on a foldable Thanksgiving card to show their appreciation for someone special. The are six variations of the ONE template, including open-ended options to meet the individual needs of all your students. This Thanksgiving activity works well year after year for multiple grade levels due to the different templates and writing or drawing options.

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Free Thanksgiving Writing Papers

For 20 additional writing papers, click HERE.

Here are 3 printable writing pages. Each lined worksheet features different picture story prompt. These papers work well for elementary students, ESL, special education and autism. 

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Free Thanksgiving Math Money Games

You will receive six printable task cards for students to practice adding money using pictures of coins and one dollar bills. They work well as a review, test prep or as a quick formative assessment. You will also receive 20 game ideas for math centers or stations. A student response form and answer key are provided. 

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Free Thanksgiving Literacy Contractions Task Cards

Click HERE of a full set of 30 cards.

You will receive 6 grammar task cards for your literacy centers or stations. Students may have a scavenger hunt, play SCOOT or other games. Students will read the phrase and write the contraction on the student response form worksheet. An answer key is also provided for your convenience.

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Free Thanksgiving Math Games Order of Operations

5th and 6th Grade

Click HERE for 30 more cards.

You will receive six task cards for 5th and 6th grade students. A student response form and answer key are also provided. Task cards are a fun alternative to worksheets. Students may play SCOOT, have a scavenger hunt or play other games allowing for movement in the classroom.

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Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find great resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!

Halloween Classroom Activities and Games

October is such a fun month to be in the classroom.  Here are some pumpkin songs and videos, lessons and Halloween activities to use for language arts and math. 

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Please note this blog post includes resources from our TpT and Amazon Associate stores.

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...or click the video below to watch it here.

Your students will enjoy this Halloween song, "Pumpkin Pumpkin."

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Here is another Halloween video to help your students learn the basic shapes.

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Click here for a free printable Halloween finger play.

Finger plays are a great way to introduce poetry concepts, following directions and fine motor skills to elementary and special education students. They also allow movement in the classroom, which research has shown brain breaks increase achievement. You will receive one free finger play for the students to read.

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ORANGE BREW RECIPE:

1 cup milk

1 cup water

6 ounces concentrated orange juice

10-12 ice cubes

1 teaspoon vanilla

Whip ingredients in blender until frothy.

Variation: Use ingredients to make popsicles.

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Click on the picture to enlarge, then right click to print this free Hallween dot-to-dot worksheet.

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There are many opportunities for students to practice visual discrimination.  Students may compare  different colors pumpkins and gourds or different types of candy.

For example, here is a set of 24 decorative pumpkins.  They are 2 inches in size and work great in Halloween math centers as manipulatives for counting and sorting.

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This printable Halloween worksheet is another way for students to practice visual discrimination.

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Free Halloween writing paper to download and print.  Click here.

Here are 5 writing prompts to help get you started.

1.  Maddie saw the pumpkin glowing on the porch. However, it didn't have a candle in it!

2. Our teacher asked us to bring some Halloween decorations to school.  Jimmy brought the most unusual item.

3.  All the children were afraid to go to the house at the end of the street, everyone except Anna that is...

4.  It was a cold and dark Halloween evening, the children were going to a new haunted house.

5.  Our science teacher let us conduct an experiment to create a monster.

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Click here to download some free Halloween math task cards with spiders.

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Click here to download some free Halloween math telling time task cards with a pumpkins theme.

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These foam pumpkin decorations will be a hit in a writing center.  Have your students decorate a pumpkin, then write a story about its adventures!

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Inflatable Party Ghost

This fun ghost has so many possibilities in your classroom.  Hang it in a writing center to spark many creative writing activities.  Use it for easy and smooth transitions.  The teacher could hold him while walking around the room.  The students may give the ghost a high five when they are in their seats and ready to work!

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Black Spider Rings

These rings would make great prizes.  However, in the past I used them in the sand table.  Set the timer and see how many each student can find.  Students must count and record their results. Students could also make a graph of all the results.

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Candy is definitely on the students' minds this whole month.  Board games teach so many essential skills from social to academic.  Candyland is a classic that everyone loves.

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More Halloween resources:

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Free Stellaluna Bat Activities and Printables

In this blog post, you will find free Stellaluna activities, worksheets, and crafts to use with your kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and special education students. They are perfect for a Halloween or bat unit. You will also find printables from my TPT store.

Exploring Stellaluna: Engaging Activities for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Families

Click HERE to view our Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store.

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Click HERE for a free bat coloring page and writing paper.

 From my TPT store:

Stellaluna Printable Book Activities

I’m excited to share some creative and fun activities inspired by the beloved book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. This charming story of a little bat who finds herself in a bird’s world is not just a delightful read; it also offers wonderful opportunities for learning across various subjects. Let's dive into some original game and activity ideas that you can easily incorporate into your lessons!

1. Read the Story

Click to watch the story read online:

2. Math: Batty Counting and Patterns

Create a "Stellaluna Counting Chart." Using cutouts of bats and birds, ask students to create patterns. For example, they can alternate between a bat and a bird: bat, bird, bat, bird. Once they've mastered patterns, challenge them to count how many of each creature they have used and create simple addition or subtraction problems.

Extension: Have students measure the wingspans of different bat cutouts and compare them to paper birds. This can lead to discussions about measurement and data collection.

Free Bats Counting Worksheet

3. Science: Bat Exploration Station

Set up a "Bat Exploration Station" where students can learn about real bats. Provide resources like books, articles, and videos about bat habitats, diets, and characteristics.

Activity: After their exploration, have students create a “Bat Fact Poster” that includes illustrations, facts, and even some fun myths about bats. This combines research skills with creativity!

An orphan short-tailed fruit bat hand-raised by Bat World Sanctuary. 

Adorable - This video is great for creative writing!

Meet the World's Biggest Bat

Click 

HERE for free facts about bats and rabies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

4. Literacy: Story Sequencing

To reinforce comprehension, have students retell the story by creating a sequence of events using illustrations. Provide them with blank cards to draw key scenes from Stellaluna.

Game: Turn it into a matching game where pairs of students must find their partners based on the sequence of events. This encourages teamwork and deeper understanding of the narrative structure!

Click the question to play an online Stellaluna reading comprehension game.

5. Writing: Stellaluna’s Diary

Encourage students to write diary entries from Stellaluna’s perspective. Ask them to reflect on her feelings as she navigates her new environment and how she eventually embraces her identity.

Prompt: “Dear Diary, today I felt…” This can help students practice emotional writing while connecting personally with the character.

6. Art: Batty Craft Time

Bring out the creativity with a bat-themed craft! Provide black construction paper and let students create their own bat puppets. They can use scissors, markers, and glitter to design unique bats.

Performance: After making their puppets, host a “Bat Puppet Show” where students can perform scenes from the story or improvise their own bat adventures.

Bat Paper Sculpture 

(Click the picture)

Bat Finger Puppet

A Stellaluna Bat Craft Activity

7. Movement: Bat and Bird Game

Take learning outside with a game that combines movement and fun! Designate an area as the “forest” and have students take turns being Stellaluna (the bat) and the birds. The bat must try to find the birds while they flap around.

Rule: When Stellaluna tags a bird, they must share one fact about bats before they can switch roles. This encourages active participation and reinforces the science component.

Bat vs. Bird Venn Diagram Activity

What is the difference between bats and birds?

8. Free Printable Worksheet

Click the picture below to enlarge and print a free dot-to-dot worksheet.

9: Echolocation Activities

Song:

Click the picture for an echolocation game.

Echolocation Experiment

10. Music and Rhythm: Bat Beats

Introduce a rhythm-based game called "Bat Beats." Using simple instruments like drums, tambourines, or even clapping, create rhythms that represent different events in Stellaluna. For example, a slow beat can symbolize Stellaluna flying calmly, while a fast beat might represent her panic when separated from her mother.

Activity: Have students create their own rhythm patterns to match specific scenes from the story. Then, turn it into a group performance, where the class "retells" the story through rhythm and music.

This activity helps students with timing, coordination, and connecting music to storytelling!

Final Thoughts

Using Stellaluna in the classroom or at home offers a fantastic opportunity to blend reading with interactive activities that span multiple subjects. Each of these ideas aims to foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among students. I hope you find these activities as enjoyable and enriching as I do!

Feel free to share your experiences or adaptations of these activities in the comments below. Happy teaching!

The activities above go along nicely with this book (found in our Amazon Associate store):

Stellaluna Special Edition Hardcover by Janell Cannon , Stellaluna Plush Doll , Activity Booklet, Downloadable Crafts with Activity Kit and Create a Bat Artwork Gift Set

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Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find valuable resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!