Speech & Language Therapy with Lego Duplo Build Me Emotions

Months ago (actually too long ago -- but life has been busy for me), I shared how I've been using Lego Duplo Animal Bingo in therapy.  If you missed that post, you can read it here.  I also received other Lego Duplo sets in my Donors Choose project that have been amazing to use in speech & language therapy with all of my elementary school students.

Today, let me share how I've been using Lego Duplo Build Me Emotions.

First, an overview of the product:  Lego Duplo Build Me Emotions comes with 188 Duplo size blocks to allow children to build people and explore emotions.  There are 8 face blocks, depicting 8 different emotions. (The face blocks are double sided, so you technically have 2 of every face/emotion.)  The set also comes with 8 double sided cards depicting 16 characters to be built.

Initially, I thought this would be a great way to talk about emotions and feelings with my younger students as well as my students who have pragmatic goals.  I also thought that my older students wouldn't want anything to do with these blocks as they aren't the "normal size" Lego blocks.  I was wrong.  SAY WHAT?!?!  Yes, I was wrong.  My students just want to build with Lego, regardless of the size.

How I have used this Lego Duplo set in therapy:

1) To target similarities and differences:  I build a simple figure (using 4-6 pieces, with one piece being a face).  I give the students enough blocks to build the same figure (but color of blocks and faces may be different).  We line up all of the figures, then pick 2 and discuss how they are similar and different.  Or I will give all the students the same block pieces (again color of blocks and faces may differ) and allow them to create their own figures.  We line them up to discuss how they are similar and different.  As you can see from the 3 photos, the same pieces were used each time.  The top photo shows how my students copied my figure.  The bottom two photos show how they created their own.  All from the same pile of blocks.

2) To target following directions:  I build a simple figure (with or without a face).  I give my students the blocks they need to build the same figure (along with 1 or 2 extra blocks).  I hide my figure (behind a binder) and then describe what I want them to build.  Basically, this is a Lego version of a barrier game.   

3) To target expressive language (describing, using sentences) and/or articulation skills:  This activity is very similar to what I described in bullet #2; however during this activity, the students describe the simple figure to be built.  This is a great way to have students work on speaking clearly (articulation carryover) or using sentences or descriptive terms.

 
4) To target emotions: I give each student a different face and a limited amount of blocks.  They build a figure.  We discuss how the character is feeling and why they might be feeling that way.

The first 3 activities need to be planned prior to therapy.  I dump out all of the blocks and sort by block shape.  For activity #1: I make 4 similar figures - not worrying if block colors or faces are the same as I only need block shape to be the same for this activity.  I store each set of 4 in a Ziploc bag.

For activities #2 & #3: I attempt to make 4 identical creations.  Remember, you don't want to use tons of blocks as activities #2 and #3 will be difficult for your language impaired students.  Once I have a group of 4 identical creations, I keep one built and dump the 1 built creation plus all the blocks needed for the other 3 creations into a Ziploc bag. 

Sometimes it is a time saver to dump each creation (unbuilt) into a small sandwich bag and then the 4 sandwich bags into one big Ziploc bag.   Remember, if your creations for #2 and #3 have faces, then you can use those same creations for activity #1.

The Lego Duplo Build Me Emotions set has been a HUGE hit in therapy!  Even my 5th graders have enjoyed the activities I have shared with you today.

Speech & Language Therapy with Lego Duplo Animal Bingo

Recently, I decided that I needed more toys for my therapy room.  A few of my current students aren't developmentally ready for "table learning" with worksheets, picture cards or board games.   They need hands-on learning.  They need toys.  After some research and thought, I decided Lego Duplo blocks would be a great addition to my therapy room.  Initially, I was leaning toward regular Lego blocks, but didn't want my younger students to struggle with the fine motor skills needed to build with those smaller blocks.

Not having tons of money to spend, I chose to fund my Lego Duplo blocks via a Donors Choose project.  Donors Choose is an amazing website -- if you're not familiar with it, you should check it out.  I submitted my project request on a Thursday night.  Friday morning it was approved and by Friday evening, it was fully funded.   Items were ordered Saturday morning and in my possession by Tuesday afternoon in time to use in therapy on Wednesday.   Mind you, Donors Choose projects don't always get funded (or arrive) this quickly.  It was amazing how quickly all of this happened.

Check out my new therapy fun:

I've had this box of Lego Duplo fun for less than a week and already I am seeing a world of possibilities!  When I originally requested these products, I had only a few of my students in mind. Little did I realize how many more of my students these products would actually benefit.  Initially, I thought my older students wouldn't want anything to do with these blocks as they aren't the "normal size" Lego blocks.  I was wrong. SAY WHAT?!?!  Yes, I was wrong.  They just want to build.

Today, let me share what we did with Lego Duplo Animal Bingo.

First an overview of the product:  Lego Duplo Animal Bingo comes with enough blocks to build 8 different animals and 8 game cards depicting the blocks needed to build each animal.  The game cards are 2 sided with one side showing the animal built with all the same color block and the other side showing the same animal built with different colored blocks.  Each student is given a game card (or 2).  All of the blocks go in the container.  Someone (usually the adult) picks a random block from the container.  If one of the students need it to build their animal, s/he says, "I need that block."  The winner is the first person to have all the blocks needed to build their animal.  

How I used it in therapy:

1) To target colors - check out all those colors!  A yellow giraffe, a red bunny, a pink snail, a green bird, a blue elephant, a brown moose, an orange ostrich, and a purple camel.

2) To target increasing vocabulary by naming animals.

3) To target increasing vocabulary by naming action words while the animals walk, run, hop, sleep, eat, talk, spin, hide, etc.

4) To target same and different by matching the correct block to the one pictured on the game card.  This was difficult for one of my students - he wanted to match a red block to a red block without regard for shape or size or even the fact there was an eye on the block.  With lots of modeling from me, he began to understand what he needed to do.




5) As a reinforcement during articulation therapy.  I gave each student 2 game boards.  They had to say their target words correctly 5-10x to earn a block to build their animal.  They loved this activity! 





6) To target answering and asking questions.  My student had to ask for two game cards, requesting which animals he wanted ("Can I have the giraffe?").   I also had two game cads.  We took turns closing our eyes and reaching in the box for a random block.  If I needed it, I would model, "I need this block for my animal."  If I didn't need it, I would ask the student, "Do you need this block?"  If he answered, "Yes", I would follow up with "Which animal needs this block?"   My student was expected to ask me similar questions after he chose a block from the box.



7) To target creative, spontaneous language while playing.

I've had these blocks for less than a week and look at everything we've been doing!  And I've only shared what we did with ONE of the Lego Duplo products!   Wait until you see what we do next week with these fun blocks!

Creating a card game - how hard can it be?

Card games... my family can't get enough of them.  Playing them, finding unique and different ones to buy, making them.... 

SAY WHAT?!?!

Yes, we like to make our own card games.

Have you ever tried to make a card game?  It's not as easy as you think.   When my son, M, was 12, he dared me to make a card game about potatoes.   Well, about "poe-tah-toes" as that's his term for "potatoes".  He's a funny kid.  

I accepted his dare but it became a family event.  My family sat around the table brainstorming:  What would be the object of the game?  What rules would there be?  How would the players interact?  Would all cards be shown or some kept hidden?  What type graphics did we want?  Action cards:  how would they restrict players from reaching their goal or help players reach the goal?  

Ideas and suggestions poured out and I scrambled to get them all on paper.  We let the ideas sit for a day then reviewed them, scrapping some, tweaking others.  Now, it was time for a rough draft.   Via powerpoint, I created a card template and began adding graphics and text.  My family wandered in and out, giving advice on graphics and text wording.   Project saved and rough draft printed.

Finally, it was time to play the game and it stunk.  SAY WHAT?!?!  All that time invested and it stunk?  What was the problem?  Inertia.   The game in its neutral state never ended.  That's not a good thing.  When you play a game, you want it to end.  Please don't confuse that last sentence with "You don't want to play the game."    That is not what I meant.  When we play a game, we want to reach the goal of the game.  That's the purpose of the game, right?  Think of a good game of UNO:  when the game is quick and ends "too soon", most of the time the players will say, "Hey... let's play another round!"   There was fun, the fun ended, they want to re-capture the fun.   Now, think of a bad game of UNO:  drags on and on and on and on.  When it does end, the emotion around the table is "Thank goodness that was over... I thought it was never going again... please don't deal another round."

One key element to a good game is that even in the game's neutral state, players are still making gains toward the goal (or end) of the game.  Our poor homemade game wasn't doing that.  Hubby and I figured out we had too many "Lose everything" cards.  Basically, those cards kept sending players back to square one of the game.  No one was winning.  The game was not ending.  Everyone was thinking, "Please... let this madness stop!"

We didn't scrap the entire game.  It had some really fun elements.  We did enjoy the actual game play until we realized the game wouldn't end.  Our first idea to fix that issue was a simple one:  reduce the number of "Lose everything" cards.    Luckily, that was the perfect solution.  We cut the number of "Lose everything" cards in half and the game flowed beautifully.  We enjoy playing it.  My son's friends and my nephews enjoy playing it.  For such a pale, white topic (potatoes); it's truly an entertaining game.


Since creating our "Poe-tah-toe Game"  (yes, that's what we named it), I've created a few other card games to entertain my students during speech therapy.  All of them are "open-ended", meaning anyone can use the games.  They aren't tailored specifically for "students in speech therapy".  I created them to entertain and all of them have done exactly that.

Thinking about creating your own game?  First read this blog post written by Mark Rosewater (the Head Designer for Magic, The Gathering) for the top 10 things every game needs.   It's full of excellent information.

If you do create a game (whether to use in your classroom or therapy room or with your own family), I'd love to hear about it.  My family and I truly enjoy checking out new games.

Keep on having fun....

Shining Stars (TPT Boost Sale)

Today's post veers toward my Speech Therapist side as well as my "love a great sale" side!  TeachersPayTeachers (TPT) is having a one-day site-wide sale on Wednesday (August 19th).  You don't want to miss it as TPT only has 4-5 site-wide sales each year.

My friend, Jen at SLPRunner, decided to have a linky party to celebrate TPT's sale and help other Speech Therapists get some ideas on what to buy.  This sale is great for me -- I return to work today, so on the 19th (the day of the sale) I'll have a better idea of things I want/need for my therapy room for the fall.

The purpose of SLPRunner's linky party is to highlight TPT products I treasure, whether they are from my store or another's.  I'm going to take a different twist!   (SAY WHAT?!?!?  Can I do that?  Well, sure I can...)

I'm going to highlight TPT products that my students beg to use.  Yes, they actually walk in my room saying, "Can we use/play.....?!?!?"  

SPEECH BUGABOO

 

Let's start with my "Speech Bugaboo".   It's a simple, fun, open-ended game that my students LOVE!  The first year I started using this game, I actually had a student ask me, "Can we play this game every time we come to speech?"  Wow! That speaks volumes to me!!

TOCA BOCA TEA PARTY

 

Another activity that my students beg to do is Toca Boca Tea Party, which is a pretend play app on my iPad.  It's a fantastic app for targeting language skills and social skills.  In order to do more with this app, I created an app companion to go with it.  My app companion allows you to target sequencing (with pictures), vocabulary, following directions, early literacy skills, patterning, and comparison.  My students love the activities from this pack.
 

BLOWING BUBBLES: CATEGORIES

 

Pam at SmallTalkSLP created this fun packet that my students also love.  Fun way to target categories -- especially if you use a bingo marker!!  They actually keep asking me to make more pages.  So, Pam... if you're reading this -- make more pages!!! 
 

QUICK DRILLS BY MIA McDANIEL 

 

 If you're not using any (or all) of Mia McDaniel's Quick Drill Games, my students are going to ask you, "WHY NOT?!?!"  The biggest problem my students have with her Quick Drill Games is deciding which one to play!   I've decided this year that when the girls ask for the Princess Quick Drill Game and the boys ask for the Robot Quick Drill Game; I'm going to mix the two games together so we can play the Robot Princess Quick Drill Game.  You get what you get, don't throw a fit.   Problem solved.   Ah... if only all problems could be solved that easily, right? 

Hopefully the above products that my students treasure will help your students.  What TPT products are you using during therapy that your students love?  Leave me a comment below and let me know!  If you're wondering what other SLPs deem as "treasured TPT activities", go check out SLPRunner's linky party.   Just click on the graphic to go to her party. 

CLICK HERE

Also remember to use the code MORE15 at checkout on August 19th to receive an additional 10% off your TPT order.

Happy shopping!