Teach Through Play: Hooray for Play!

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary

Description: I have to admit that I am obsessed with this resource. And not only am I obsessed, but I have been showing this to every ABA therapist that I see. And they are also wowed by this resource. There are 31 cards included in the deck. On the front of each card is an illustration of a pretend play activity, such as an illustration of a pirate standing on a ship, a pilot talking with a passenger while another passenger is putting his suitcase in the overhead compartment, or two children building a sand castle on the beach. On the back of each card are steps for what to do to prepare for pretend play, suggestions for what to say to promote language and interaction, and ideas for how to get started with play. Some cards also include variations on the scenario.

Skills & Modifications: This resource was created by Stacy Asay who provides ABA for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental delays in New York City. It is clear these cards were thoughtfully designed to allow teachers and parents to more easily address deficits in a learner’s play skills. Included in the deck are directions for how to use the cards to teach receptive language, Wh questions and inferences, a Who Am I? Game,  and similarities and differences. The cards also support other skills as well, which are detailed below.

• Peer Play – The deck is designed for working on imaginative or pretend play skills. With many of the scenarios, it is very easy to incorporate peers or siblings. I also love how the illustrations are included. With one student, I was able to place three cards in front of him to let him choose a scenario for our pretend play with his brother. He was much more motivated to engage with the activity because he had chosen it.
• Foreground & Background –  The illustrations on these cards are detailed enough that they show foreground and background and work with the student on differentiating between the two.
• Picture Comprehension – Again, the illustrations are simple but detailed enough to provide a lot of visual information. I used these with one student and asked “What’s happening in the picture?” or “Tell me about this.”

Pros: This is incredibly easy to use to work with your students on pretend play and other skills. It’s the type of resource I wish I had when I was first starting out because it provides such a wealth of ideas combined with examples and suggestions. And all of this information is provided in digestible amounts!

Cons: I have no cons for this resource.

Cost: $12.95 here.  You should invest in this deck of cards if: you are a teacher working with students with autism and other developmental delays, you work with social groups or play groups, or you are a parent seeking guidance for encouraging imaginative play with your child.

ABLLS: C34, C43, C44, C55, C57, G7, G8, G15, G16, G17, G22, G39, H22, H30, H40, K7, K8, K10, K11

VB-MAPP: Social Behavior 5, Tact 8, Tact 9, Listener Responding 9, Social Behavior 8, Social Behavior 9, Social Behavior 10, Motor Imitation 10, Tact 14, Social Behavior 14, Social Behavior 15

**Hooray for Play! was provided to me for free by the company Different Roads to Learning. This did not influence my opinions on the resource. The thoughts and ideas above are all my own.

Teach Through Books: Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary

Description: So a William Steig is making his second appearance here at Teach Through. Pete’s A Pizza is a simple story about a boy who’s feeling pretty gloomy because it’s raining outside. His father decides to cheering him up by making him into a pizza. The story then takes the reader through the process of Pete being kneaded and stretched as dough, tossed like dough, and having pretend ingredients placed on him. It beautifully illustrates and example of imaginative play, and can be directly extended after the book.

Skills & Modifications: The primary way that I use this book is through extending it’s concept after reading it. I stole this idea from a teaching assistant I had the pleasure of working with several years ago. To extend the idea of the book, simply re-enact the book by making your student into a pizza like Pete’s father does to him in the story.

• Imaginative Play – For my students who enjoy stretches, squeezes, and gross motor activities; this can be a great way to motivate them to engage in imaginative play activities. In the book, Pete’s father actually puts items representing pizza ingredients on him, however I typically just pretend to be placing ingredients.
• Manding (Requesting) – Several of my students especially love the portion where I stretch, squeeze, roll, and toss them like dough. I am able to get them to mand for all of these actions because they are so highly motivated by the activity. I also get the students to mand for ingredients. I can ask them what they like on their pizza, or I can allow them to make a silly pizza (such as one with smelly shoes or worms for toppings.) I only allow the silly ingredients if the child is participating in the humorous aspect and truly understands that those ingredients do not belong on a pizza.
• Summarizing/Recalling a story – For some students, I will do the interactive activity of “making” them a pizza. Afterward, I will ask them what I put on them. For example, I’ll ask “What ingredients did I put on you to make you really tasty?” or “Did I use pepperonis?” While initially playing the game, I try to use different motor movements and/or sound effects for each ingredient so I can use that as a gestural or verbal prompt to help them summarize the activity.
• Peer Play – I have also used this with students to encourage peer play and taking turns. I will “make” two pizzas simultaneously and trade turns placing ingredients on each pizza. This is a fantastic way to engage in peer play for students who are highly motivated by the pizza activity but hesitant to engage in parallel play or play interactions with peers. You can increase the language and social play expectation by having your student and his/her peer take turns being the pizza-maker.

Pros: I love using the kinesthetic activity to extend the lesson. My preschool students especially respond well.

Cons: It’s William Steig! There are no cons!

Cost: $7.99 You should invest in this book if: Your child enjoys motor activities and sensory activities such as squeezes and stretches.

ABLLS: F6, F8, F11

VB-MAPP: Listener Responding 5, Social Behavior 4, Social Behavior 5, Mand 7, Mand 8, Social Behavior 9, Social Behavior 14