Listen & Think Brain Play - Thanksgiving

 
 

Listen & Think Brain Play is a rich activity that targets listening, following directions, auditory processing, vocabulary and comprehension skills. The more a child knows about a topic, such as Thanksgiving the easier it is to comprehend and retain the information. Background knowledge of recurring holidays and seasons is fundamental for language, academic and communication success.  This activity

  • Builds a cornucopia of Tier 2 vocabulary. Background knowledge of recurring holidays and seasons is fundamental for language, academic and communication success.

  • Children that are deaf and hard of hearing as well as those students with limited language may struggle to increase vocabulary because of weak auditory memory, difficulty with auditory comprehension and lack of exposure.

  • Fosters back-and-forth conversation - Serve and Return interactions increases in the parts of the brain responsible for listening and spoken language processing and production.

What's Included?

  • 28 Thanksgiving-related conversation starters, questions and trivia topics.

  • Answer sheet with space for data collection

  • Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) Tips

 
 

The Listen & Think conversation starters, questions and trivia topics can be played:

  • alongside a reinforcing board game or online seasonal game. 

  • using a buzzer or bell to ring in their answers.

  • by beating the clock which targets auditory processing speed or the pace a child takes in information, makes sense of it, and then responds. Set a stopwatch or use an online timer or app. See how many prompts the child responds to in an allotted time.

  • by choosing a card as a discussion or conversation starter.

  • by splitting the players up into two teams that compete for points by answering questions.

No Prep

Thanksgiving Brain Play can be used in teletherapy

Cards can be printed and used in face-to-face sessions or lessons.

For Families

Great to use throughout the month of November or to build listening and language skills or as conversational starters at Thanksgiving dinner.

A Halloween Mystery Bin - one LSL activity for all the kids on your caseload!

 
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Listening, language, and learning with a Halloween mystery bin is a motivating activity for kids of all ages. I use a clear plastic container, dry pinto beans, and cover seasonal objects with a small swag of artificial autumn leaves to keep the item(s) hidden from view. Chose wisely items that can expand your child’s vocabulary. Acorns, leaves, and found items in nature and the dollar stores, Oriental Trading, and Target’s Dollar Spot have seasonal toys that are inexpensive and just right for a bin. Depending on the child’s goals this activity level can be leveled up or down. Increase or decrease the set size to meet the child's listening and language level.

Here are some ideas to try!

Ear contact before eye contact: Bury seasonal objects, cover with leaves and talk about the item before the child sees it. (Hearing First)  Hide a ghost under the beans. Cue the child to listen. Say Boo, ooo-ooo. I hear a ghost. Boo, ooo-ooo. Uncover the ghost fly it around while saying Boo, ooo-ooo. Hand the ghost to the child and offer the opportunity for them to imitate the ghost.

Listening for descriptions: Hide a spider, a jack-o-lantern, and a few leaves. Ask the child to find an insect something with a face and what grows on trees. 

Categories: Search for something that flies, is scary; seen in a pumpkin patch; is make-believe and so on.

Following directions/critical elements: Find the bat and make it sleep upside down. Put the straw has on the scarecrow.

Auditory memory: Look for the owl. Find the apple, the wagon, and the black cat. Uncover the skeleton, the witch but not the monster.

Auditory Comprehension and Sequencing: Tell a short story with the hidden items. Then, have the child find the objects and retell the story.

Inferences or Riddles: "I am the color of darkness. Witches keep me as their pet." Find it!

Let the child be the teacher: Give the child a turn to bury a toy and describe it to the other players.

Visit my Listen With Lynn store for more Halloween listening and language activities and games.