Autism Awareness Day. Planning and Resources. Bea Inclusive TV and Podcast Episode 020
Hey everybody!
Happy Thursday. I hope that you’ve enjoyed having all your children back in school. Returning to school wasn’t easy and challenged us so much that we were ready for the Easter Holliday break.
As we are getting closer to World Autism Awareness Day (celebrated every year on the 2nd of April), I thought that I would get through all the books for children that explain Autism.
My name is Bea, and this VLOG is dedicated to advocating truly inclusive school provision through well-researched, safe, and recommended approaches such as Lego®-based Therapy.
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The only way to accept is through knowledge and understanding. We can do plenty of things to celebrate World Awareness Day. People are fundraising, organising sponsor walks, organising cakes and coffee meetings, making donations, etc. All these ways are important, and I admire all of them.
Today, I would like to focus on how we can help children with Autism and their classmates understand what it is and how they can help.
If you are not confident about this topic, I suggest watching the short video about Autism first. Gather your class team and watch this short and sweet video about Autism. This will help you to talk about this topic, and you will gather appropriate language. I placed the link to this video here.
We are all different in some ways. We are all unique and special. There is no other you in the world! And therefore, it is essential to teach about acceptance. Teaching children about Autism or other special educational needs will help them understand and accept themselves and other people who seem different because they have Autism, PDA, ADHD, are from a foreign country, etc.
First, you must decide what book you will read in the classroom. And, oh boy, you have plenty of choices! I placed and reviewed the books for you below.
If you don’t have time to plan and prepare the resources, you can use mine.
The plan is straightforward:
1. Program of the day (tell children what they are going to do today – use visual help)
2. Read a Book (I’ve chosen “It’s OK to be Different” (on the carpet for up to 5 minutes)
3. Ask children to fulfil two pages of the “All about me” worksheet (at their desks – simply read, decide and circle so that you will need between 3-6 minutes for that)
4. Ask children to come to the carpet with their worksheets and together, on the whiteboard, register the findings for the whole class (5 graphs and “I hope people will”)
5. At this time, I like to break the task with 3 minutes of dancing and singing exercise followed by quiet relaxing music and square breathing for the next 2 minutes.
6. I read a book about Autism. I’ve chosen “The Children’s Guide to Autism” (on the carpet for up to 5 minutes).Then, ask children to fulfil the “Five senses worksheet” about themselves and children with Autism (at the table for 3-6 minutes).
7. On the carpet, discuss both worksheets with the children (2-4 minutes).
8. Ask children to work with their partner, at the group table, or on the carpet with the whole class, and fulfil the “What we can do to help” worksheet.
9. At the end of the lesson, all children will receive the certificate.
I believe everything is self-explanatory, and as usual, you can adapt, differentiate, and change everything!
Now it’s your job to spread the word!
You can find planning and resources here:
Books are NOT included, so DON’T forget to get them.
I wish you and your children all the best in understanding and accepting themselves and people with Autism.
OK. There you have it!
I hope you enjoyed my video today, and I look forward to hearing from you.
After you’ve finished, please join the discussion below. Please tell me what you would like me to cover in my VLOGs.
Happy Easter, Everyone, and I will see you next Thursday.
Bay
"It's Okay to Be Different" by Todd Parr it's a really colourful book that inspires kids and adults to embrace their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence.
"I see Things Differently. A First Look at Autism" by Pat Thomas. This book is aiming to help siblings or classmates with autism to understand about their daily struggles.
"We're Amazing 1, 2, 3!. A Story about Friendship and Autism" it's a lovely story of Elmo and Julia.
"My friend Has Autism" by Amanda Doering Tourville it's a short story about two friends Nick and Zack. Boys have the same interests. It's is the Nick's personal inside on how it is to be a friend with Zack, who has Autism.
"Looking after Louis" by Lesley Ely. If you have support a child with echolalic speech then it's a good start to talk about that in the classroom.
"Ian's walk. A Story about Autism" by Laurie Lears is a story about Julie and her brother Ian, who has autism.
"The children's guide to Autism" by Fiona Reeves, mum that wrote the book to explain Thomas Autism to him and his friends. This is not the story as the book is written in the factual, non-fiction way.
"My Friend with Autism" by Beverly Bishop it's an exceptional result of a parent who was determine to educate her son's classmates about Autism to help her son fit in.
"Aurora's Gift" by Emily Bunny it's a very colourful and rhyming book.
"My Awesome Autism" by Nikki Saunders it's a very colourful and stimulating book, written in a form of diary. You can buy version for a boy as well.
"The Abilities in me. Autism" by Gemma Keir. Another colourful book about the boy with Autism. It's like a mini guide to Autism Good Practice at school.
"My brother is different" by Louise Gorrod it's the book that was published by the National Autistic Society. It will give you the chance to see how the family life is affected by having a child with Autism.