Tag: autism

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Autism Awareness Day

Topic: Autism Awareness Day

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes:

The child will be enabled to:

  • identify things which make each child unique
  • understand more about Autism and that people are born with autism
  • begin to identify some of the characteristics associated with people with autism, but that all people with autism are different
  • identify some of the ways in which people with autism may respond to various stimuli

 

Introduction

Unique: Pupils have a discussion about what makes them unique – what they like, dislike, what they are good at, what they find challenging.

 

Autism: Teacher introduces the word ‘autism’ and asks the class if they have ever heard the word before, or if they know anything about it.

 

 

 

Development

Teacher defines what autism is and discusses how people with autism are born with it and that autism affects the way their brain works.

 

Video: pupils watch a video about autism and how a child with autism may behave in certain situations.

 

Language: Pupils learn that people with autism may make their voice heard through pictoral systems, communication devices, apps.

 

Stimuli stations: pupils rotate around various stimuli stations (feeling jelly, playing with sand, listening to noise etc.) Pupils discuss which stimuli they liked/didn’t like. They can begin to realise that everyone has different preferences and it is due to their brain telling them how to respond. For a person with autism, their senses can be heightened and it can be difficult for them to be comfortable around certain sounds, smells, tastes, touches.

Plenary

Circle: pupils come together to discuss what they have learned about autism and the importance of autism awareness. Discuss how lack of understanding or awareness may have a negative impact of somebody with autism.

 

If applicable, classes could visit ASD unit in their school to learn about the various resources available to support the children in their day-to-day life.

 

Other Resources for teaching this topic

Information for teacher: https://autism.ie/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtRYKjucDHk&disable_polymer=true

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXwxmMKBzWk

 

 

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Autism awareness

Topic: Autism awareness

Learning Outcomes

The child shall be enabled to:

  • further develop the concept of responsibility towards each other (Moral and Spiritual Development Strand)
  • explore rights and responsibilities in relation to the other children in the school and the contribution they can make to ensure these rights are upheld (Equality and Justice Strand)

 

Introduction

Circle Time Discussion:

  • Introduce the idea that we all have some things in common and that we are also unique.
  • What do we have in common?
  • What makes each of us unique?
  • Pass a speaking object around the circle and give each child an opportunity to answer each of these questions.

Development

Video about autism

  • Introduce the video – we will watch a video about how people view the world differently.
  • Show the video ‘Amazing Things Happen When’ : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbwRrVw-CRo
  • Think, pair share: ask the children to name one thing they learned from the video.
  • Explain that some people have autism which means they experience the world differently and can find some situations overwhelming.

Plenary

Ways to show respect for others

  • Brainstorm different ways we can show empathy and respect for people, particularly those with autism.

 

Other Resources for teaching this topic

Amazing Things Happen When video available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbwRrVw-CRo

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World Autism Day

Topic: World Autism Day

Learning Outcomes

The children will:

  • understand that all sorts of people have autism.
  • design their own sensory relaxation box.
  • think about what is fair division of resources.

 

Introduction

The children will brainstorm what they already know about A.S.D. and questions that they have. Results could be recorded on a whiteboard.

Development

The children will learn that A.S.D. can effect:

  • how people socialise
  •  the senses (people can be over sensitive or under sensitive)

Children will learn that this means some people with A.S.D. will needs lots of alone time, others will not. Some people with A.S.D. may talk lots, others may communicate in different ways. (e.g. Ipads or PECS)

They children will explore the sensory aspect to ASD though designing their own relaxation box. They will think about their own sensory preferences. The children will be told that some people need to feed their senses and others need sensory breaks.

Plenary

The children will gradually view the image of 3 children trying to see a baseball match. This will begin a discussion about how we can make our everyday environment/behaviour more Autism-Friendly.

 

 

Other Resources for teaching this topic

https://asiam.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/relaxation-box.jpg

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meditation

Topic: meditation

Learning Outcomes

  • Develop his/ her meditative spirit through the provision of opportunities for silence and reflection.

     

     

    Introduction
    • Explain to the children what will take place during the lesson and why we are doing the lesson.
    • Bring the children to the sensory room and allow them to select a beanbag or mat for the duration of the lesson.
    • Show visuals to the children demonstrating how they can lie down on the beanbags/ mats.
    • Explain to the children that there will be a lady speaking on the CD along with the calming music.

    Development
    • Teacher will begin playing a track from the CD “Enchanted Meditations for Kids” by Christiane Kerr or “Mediation and Relaxation for Kids” by Dr. Elizabeth Scott.
    • Remind the children to still their bodies and close their eyes.

    If any child begins to become agitated an SNA will be able to remove them from the room and take them on a movement break outside to the green nature area. (autism specific)

    Plenary

    – To finish off the lesson allow the children to complete 2 mindful movement exercises following the clip Mindful Movement for Young Learners on You Tube (2.39 mins – 3.50 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aEI8lb7coY

    If any child would like to remain lying down for an extra couple of minutes allow them to do so.

     

    Other Resources for teaching this topic

    You Tube link Mindful Movement for Young Learners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aEI8lb7coY

    This lesson was written by teachers of children with ASD but can be easily adapted to suit any class level.