Resources for Special-Mainstream Linking
Special-Mainstream Games, Pack 1
These games are broadly aimed at primary pupils. Our thanks go to Stephanie Clements, of Co-op Academy Delius, Bradford, who has put together these lovely resources and shared them with us.
These resources can be viewed individually below, or downloaded together as a Powerpoint, or word doc (this includes all of the primary games shown below in this first section of resources).
With all activities it will of course be necessary to adapt ideas to suit the needs of your students.
Making Music Circle Game
Making Music Circle Game ppt and word doc
What you need: Music to listen to whilst gathering/ at the end. Foot stomping – shoes on a hard floor covering works well, but it will still work on carpet. Shoes can be worn on feet or hands as necessary/preferred. Pupils can clap their hands together, on their knees, on their chest or on the floor.
Team Art
Team Art and Group Monster Games in ppt and word doc
What you need: All pupils will need a piece of paper and pencils, or an iPad where they can create their own picture by dragging pictures onto a page.
Whats in the Bag? Game
Whats in the bag? Charades and Moving Bingo Games ppt and word doc
What you need:
- In advance, prepare a bag/tray filled with the images or objects to do with favourite activities featured on the All About Me worksheet or have them on a computer screen generator if playing on Zoom.
What Can You Feel? Game
What Can You Feel Game in ppt and word doc
What you need: A range of different tactile materials for each group of pupils.
(These could include a small blown-up balloon, a paint brush, an art roller, tissue paper, plasticine, soft toothbrush, cotton wool, velvet). Practise describing surfaces- soft, prickly, smooth, scratchy etc
The Lion Sleeps Tonight/ In the Jungle Zoom Sing Along Activity
‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’/ In the Jungle sing along zoom activity with Makaton signing ppt and in a word doc
What you need: a copy of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ song.
In advance, pupils choose their favourite jungle animal, they could make an animal mask in an art lesson that they can wear for the zoom session
Practise the song ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’, let the pupils know that the children at the link school are also practising this song
'You've got a Friend in Me Zoom Sing Along Activity
‘You’ve got a Friend in Me’ zoom sing along with Makaton signing ppt and in a word doc
What you need:
‘You’ve got a Friend in Me’ song
Before the session: Talk about what makes a good friend and what you can do when making a new friend eg smile when you meet someone new. How many ways do we know to say ‘Hello?’ (ppt slides)
Pupils practise their own special wave that they will do on the screen
Practise the song ‘You’ve got a Friend in Me’, let the pupils know that the children at the link school are also practising this song
Drama Time: The Rainforest
Rainforest Drama – You can download this activity in a ppt format or a word doc
What you need:
A copy of the powerpoint or word script to talk through
Special-Mainstream Games Pack 2
Our second pack of activities, listed below is aimed more at secondary pupils. Our thanks for these go to drama specialists Sophie Hammond and Annice Avery, of Hazelbeck and Beckfoot Schools, Bradford, who brought about a performing arts triumph through their Secondary Special-Mainstream linking in Bradford.
All of this second batch of activities can be view individually below, or downloaded as a word document here.
Getting to Know You Games
What you need:
Space to come together in a circle
Snack time chat – snacks, background music
Drama Warm Up Games and Activities
Drama Warm Up Games and Activities
What you need:
Familiar songs to play/ learn/ move to and decent sound system,
Access to YouTube (if you want to follow a dance warm up on line),
Large space for moving around
Ideas pack: paper, pens, iPad/ laptop for each group
2 chairs for a park bench improvisation
Ideas for Art Activities
What you need:
Sensory resources: eg jelly, small objects, tweezers, shaving foam, water tray with equipment, slime (you can make your own or buy), sand tray and equipment, cornflour and hair conditioner
Art resources: eg jigsaw piece templates, display tree trunk and cut out ‘leaves’, straws and marshmallows, clay
Ideas for Outdoor Games
What you need:
PE equipment for games or an obstacle course, items you can hide outside for a scavenger hunt
Music and Parachute Games
What you need:
Plastic bottle shakers: empty clean bottles and materials to decorate them, fill with rice/ lentils/past etc
Familiar songs to play/ learn/ move to and decent sound system,
Access to Shabang, large stretchy elastic bang, parachute
small plastic balls
Shared Learning Experiences
There are several shared learning experiences which teachers might like to use, including M6 Theatre plays: When we Started Singing and Bird Behaviour; assembly resources and more. here
Social Stories
There are sample social stories on the website, here, they include: Introducing Myself, Sending My Picture, Meeting New Children, Visiting a Different School, Children from a Different School Coming to Visit Me.
For each story, consideration is given to the perception of the child, and should help the child to access the concept. The story can and should be adapted for individual children. We would recommend that the parent or caregiver is contacted regarding adaptations.
The social stories are provided as a narrative only or narrative with supporting images.
You can find out more about social stories in general at https://carolgraysocialstories.com/social-stories/
Creating an Autism Friendly Welcome to a Neutral Venue
This video below was created by M6 Theatre who provide the Neutral Venue Visit for Rochdale Schools Linking classes. It was created following advice on creating an Autism Friendly welcome and the ideas here can be used by other venues who host linking
Understanding Autism
This powerful video could help children and adults alike to understand how the world is for an autistic person. This is all part of helping us consider the needs of all children before starting linking.
