Theme: Birthday Party

Lesson Plan (Quick view) This works best with no more than 8 children.

1. Warm up: Book I like Birthdays…It’s the Parties I’m Not Sure About by Laurie Renke

2. Vestibular: Roll and “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”

3. Proprioception: Jump into pile of pillows for a “Pillow fight”

4. Balance: Musical stop and balance

5. Eye-Hand Coordination: Birthday balloons volley

6. Cool-Down: Sing “Happy Birthday to You” quietly

7. Fine Motor: Make a paper plate party hat!

Details

1. Warm up

Read the book I like Birthdays…It’s the Parties I’m Not Sure About by Laurie Renke. Illustrated by Jake and Max Renke. Published by www.SensoryResources.com 2005.

2. Vestibular

Give each child a Donkey tail and have them sit on a small dishtowel to mark their space. Have the children take turns rolling on a blanket (the size of a gym mat), with their eyes open, while holding their donkey tail. When they roll off the blanket, then have them stand up and pin the tail on the donkey. They can go back to their “towel” spot and wait for another turn. Note: have 3-4 donkey tails for each child.

3. Proprioception

Place a large pile of pillows from the couch or bed in a safe place on the floor. Have the children take turns one at a time jumping into the pile of pillows. Remember to use the small dishtowel for the child to sit on to mark their spot while they are waiting for their turn.

4. Balance

Instruct the children to listen to the music and move slowly around the room. When the music stops, they have to balance on one foot for several seconds. Repeat again and when the music stops, have them balance on the other foot. Repeat several times. Play classical music such as “Mozart” as this is modulating/calming/organizing to the nervous system.

Prepare ahead by blowing up a balloon and filling it with a tablespoon of rice or confetti to provide a soothing sound. Have the children stand in a circle and toss the balloon to a friend. They have to call out their friend’s name before tossing. Note: Discourage the children from “batting” the balloon, as this can be over stimulating for some children.

6. Cool-Down

Sing the song “Happy Birthday to You” quietly. You can also have the children learn how to use their hands for sign language to a few of the words, such as “happy” by patting their chest with open hand 2 times.

7: Fine Motor

Prepare ahead of time: One paper plate per child, draw a line from the edge of the plate to the center. Have the children cut on the line. (Adult) Overlap the paper plate to form a “cone” shape, staple or tape the cone shape in place. Then the child can hole-punch two holes on each side of the bottom of the cone hat. Lace a stretchy string into each hole and tie off (the adult may need to help with this). Now the hat is ready to decorate. Have the children glue a variety of objects on the hat such as dried macaroni, sparkly beads, glitter, cut-up magazine pictures, cheerios, candy, and a ribbon on the top.

Materials

• Book I like Birthdays…It’s the Parties I’m Not Sure About by Laurie Renke. Illustrated by Jake and Max Renke. Published by www.SensoryResources.com 2005.

• “Pin the tail on the Donkey” game with multiple tails. (3-4 for each child)
• Pillows
• Blanket the size of a gym mat
• Small dish towels to use as “spot markers”
• Classical music such as Mozart
• Balloon filled with a tablespoon of rice or confetti
• Paper plates – one for each child – with a line drawn from the edge to center
• Scissors & glue
• Stretchy string
• Tactile objects to glue onto hat such as dried macaroni, sparkly beads, glitter, cut-up magazine pictures, cheerios, candy
• Ribbon for the top of the hat