Autism Outreach Service – Transition Resources

Schools and staff across Aberdeen City are in the process of planning and preparing for the return of their pupils to school in August.  This will be exciting news for a lot of our pupils but it may also be a time of apprehension for some of them too. To help support the transition from home back to school we thought it would be helpful to post some general transition resources and advice for use by both parents and teaching staff.

 

Elsa-support has a social story on going ‘Back to school’ after coronavirus and some back to school wellbeing question worksheets.

‘The Rainbow Classroom’ has produced two video social stories: ‘Going back to school’ and ‘What will school be like now?’

This is another social story on going back to school.

The following are links to pages on the Autism Toolbox and the National Autistic Society websites that relate to transition advice and resources.

The Reachout ASC website has a free collection of resources you can download.

The Autism Education Trust Transition Booklet has advice and practical strategies to support transitions. They also have a ‘Tools for Teachers Covid-19 Edition’ booklet which is free to download if you are registered with them.

The following links are visual transition supports from Communication Friendly Environments.

‘Guidance for teachers on transitioning autistic pupils back to school’ is a booklet that has been written and produced by the One Stop Shop Aberdeen and the Triple A’s Aberdeen. The Triple A’s are an entirely autism led peer support charity for people on the autistic spectrum.

 

Music With Emmeline – Tuesday 2nd June

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Familiar Song: My Dog is a Good Dog

My dog is a good dog is a song that many of our pupils at Orchard Brae School enjoy at Tuesday night group. We are going to think of four animals, if they are good or bad and why they are good or bad. After we have finished singing the song together can you think of anymore animals to sing about, maybe you could sing about a pet you have at home.

Dance Monkey: Part 2 – Verse 1

Today we are going to learn the first verse of Dance Monkey. We hope the chorus hasn’t already got too stuck in your head! Here are the words for the first verse;

They say oh my gosh I see the way you shine
Take your hand, my dear, and place them both in mine
You know you stopped me dead while I was passing by
And now I beg to see you dance just one more time

Primary Department Activities – Week Beginning 1st June

Here are some fun activities for you to try at home this week.

If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk.  Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.

Story Of The Week: ‘Hole At The Bottom Of The Sea’ By Jessica Law

This week’s story is one of our favourite Barefoot Books stories.  Sing along and see what you can find at the bottom of the sea.

Click below to watch and listen to the story:

The book study below has some great activities for you to try at home based on the story.

 

Links and additional documents to support the activities can be found below.

Activity 1: Sea Creature Characters

These characters can also be downloaded using the link below:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-tp-1184-under-the-sea-small-world-characters

Activity 3: Makaton Signs

Watch and learn the Makaton signs with Mr Tumble using the link below:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/something-special-crab-fish-octopus?collection=makaton-signs

Other Activity Ideas:

Design Your Own Sea Creature

These templates can also be downloaded using the link below:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/us-t-2549335-sea-creature-templates-cut-outs

Move Like A Sea Creature

These can be downloaded using the following link:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-29366-ocean-animal-movement-cards

Create A Sea Themed Mobile

These instructions and templates can also be downloaded using the link below:

https://www.rif.org/sites/default/files/Support_Materials/Activity_US_HITBOTS_SeaMobile_0713.pdf

Science: Minibeasts

This week we are going to continue looking at animals known as minibeasts, which you can find in your garden or local area.   Here is some interesting information about minibeasts.  The download links can be found below each activity.

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-10435-minibeasts-and-their-micro-habitats-powerpoint

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t2-s-1165-insects-photo-powerpoint

Now that you know a bit more about minibeasts, why don’t you try these activities?

Minibeast Interactive Game:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-5145-minibeasts-what-am-i-interactive-powerpoint-game

Sorting Activity:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-5064-minibeasts-legs-or-no-legs-sorting-activity

Description Game:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-19367-minibeast-description-cards

Classification Game:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-12808-minibeast-classification-game

Minibeast Hunt:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/T-T-019-Minibeast-hunt-sheet

Challenges:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/cfe-t-2546706-active-homework-grid-minibeasts-themed-home-learning-challenges

Make Your Own Minibeast Hotel:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-tp-523-the-cautious-caterpillar-codys-minibeast-hotel-activity-sheet

Be Resilient!

Education Scotland, in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council, produced a Resilience Alphabet full of fun think, say, do activities designed to promote resilience and develop coping strategies.  There are a series of activities for each letter of the alphabet, so pick a letter and give it a go!

https://education.gov.scot/improvement/scotland-learns/health-and-wellbeing-activities/resilience-alphabet/

Learning Grid: Life Skills

Here is a learning grid for Life Skills.  It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help develop and promote your child’s independence in a range of household and life skills tasks.

These activities are only suggestions and we would recommend that, where appropriate, you adapt these activities to meet your child’s ability level.

Learning Grid: Get Active!

Here is a learning grid for Getting Active!  It contains 16 activity ideas for you to help promote physical activity both in and out of the home on a daily basis.

These activity are only suggestions and we would recommend completing one activity each day.  However, we would love to see what other creative ways you and your family are using to Get Active daily!

Links to YouTube Channels and websites can be found below.

Oti Mabuse Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/mosetsanagape

Joe Wicks – Body Coach YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/thebodycoach1

Cosmic Kids Yoga: https://www.cosmickids.com/

Cosmic Kids Yoga YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

Learning Station YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLearningStation

Bumble Bee Physio: https://www.facebook.com/bumblebeephysio/

imoves.com also have lots of fun exercise activities for you to try at home.  Here are some of the challenges and the links to access them:

Mountain Bike Challenge: https://imoves.com/home-learning/723

Exercise And Health: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1272

Wellness Warrior – Fruit And Veg Dance: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1332

Positions And Directions: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1334

Samba Carnival: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1340

Disco: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1346

Balance Challenge: https://imoves.com/home-learning/964

Strong Core: https://imoves.com/home-learning/1393

Expressive Arts – Week Beginning 1st June

Our Expressive Arts team have been busy creating more videos for you to enjoy at home throughout the week.

They include an art activity from Diane for you to copy and drumming from Keith.  There is also information about Sam’s online dance classes and don’t forget that Emmeline’s musical activities will be posted daily.

And finally, find out what happened at the after show party following on from last week’s Trash and Tiara Ball with Keith and Emmeline!

If you would like to share how you have got on with our activities, please send any photos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk.  Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.

Art: Zentangle Hands

Drumming: Session 9 – Notation

Dance: Online Classes

Sam is holding two online dance classes this week on Wednesday 6th May and Friday 8th May at 1pm.

Both of these classes will be taking place through his YouTube channel.  You can join in by searching Sam Stephen on YouTube or you can subscribe to his channel by following the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqBDh0VNpocZvdW29VlfPg/

Trash Band: Trash And Tiaras Black Tie Ball 2020 – After Show Party

We hope you enjoyed last week’s Trash And Tiaras Black Tie Ball.  Find out what happened afterwards!.

Music With Emmeline – Monday 1st June

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Vocal Warm-Up: Hiss Like a Snake

For this week’s vocal warm-up is going to be deep breathing and then hissing like a snake. First we are going to take a deep breath for four counts and then hiss like a snake for 4 beats and we are going to try and build this up to be 16 beats together.

Dance Monkey: Part 1 – Chorus

This week’s Makaton Song is going to be Dance Monkey by Tones and I. This is another of our pupil choices this week and will be another new challenge but will certainly be a fun song to know how to sign! Today we are going to learn the chorus. Here are the words:

So they say
Dance for me, dance for me, dance for me, oh, oh, oh
I’ve never seen anybody do the things you do before
They say move for me, move for me, move for me, ay, ay, ay
And when you’re done I’ll make you do it all again

A Busy Week In Primary

All the staff at Orchard Brae are missing seeing all our pupils every day and we are always eager to see and hear what you’ve been up to.  We love seeing what everyone has been busy doing while they are at home and we have some wonderful photos and videos to share with you this week.

If you would like to share what you have been up to at home, please send any photos or videos via your child’s teacher, the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page or email Amy Dunnett (Principal Teacher Primary) adunnett@aberdeencity.gov.uk.  Downloading videos from the Orchard Brae School Facebook Messenger page appears to be working again (fingers crossed!) however if you are having any issues, please send them using a free transfer site such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.

Working Hard

You’ve continued to impress us with your hard work at home, whether it be practising your writing and numbers…

…creating your own artwork…

…enjoying stories and looking for Sharks In The Park like Tom in this week’s story…

…investigating minibeasts…

…exploring using your senses…

…or even ‘helping’your parents with their work!!

Making Music

We’ve loved seeing how you’ve been exploring music this week and we were really impressed by this video of one pupil playing the piano!!!

Out And About

It’s been great seeing where you’ve been visiting when you’ve been out and about in your local communities and all the animals you’ve spotted too.  You’ve also amazed us with your unique methods of transport!!

Life Skills

It’s been a busy week for you, baking and exploring food.  You’ve been making lollies, fruit salads and crumble and as everyone knows, the most important job is taste testing!

Getting Active

You’ve all been busy this week exploring different ways to keep yourselves active and you’ve all been making the most of the glorious weather!  Splashing around in the pool has been a favourite activity this week!

And Always Remember…

Remember to enjoy the sunshine, have fun and keep making some wonderful memories with those you love.

We can’t wait to see what you get up to next week!

Music With Emmeline – Friday 29th May

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Musical Story: Grandma Bird

Today’s musical story is Grandma Bird by Benji Davies. Emmeline has recorded some seaside music that will be played while she reads the story. She has also found a bird sound for whenever the bird is mentioned in the story. Can you find a bird sound at home that you can join in with or maybe you can pretend to be the bird yourself?

Mr Blue Sky: Part 5 – Whole Song

We are going to put all of ‘Mr Blue Sky’ together today. Good Luck!

Once you have learnt the song you might like to try the whole song along with Singing Hands and friends who recently made a wonderful Makaton Version of this song.

Music With Emmeline – Thursday 28th May

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Fun Song: Cows In The Kitchen

This is such a fun song about animals in different places in the house! Can you sing or sign along with the signs and sounds for the different animals?

Mr Blue Sky: Part 4 – Verses 4 and 5 

There are lots of different parts to Mr Blue Sky and today we are going to learn the last two parts we need to know before we put the whole song together tomorrow! Here are the words.

Hey there Mr. Blue
We’re so pleased to be with you
Look around see what you do
Everybody smiles at you

Mr. Blue, you did it right
But soon comes Mr. Night creepin’ over
Now his hand is on your shoulder
Never mind I’ll remember you this
I’ll remember you this way

Music With Emmeline – Wednesday 27th May

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Soundscape: The Meadow

Today’s soundscape has a meadow theme. We have provided this picture of a peaceful meadow as a visual stimulus but perhaps you would like to close your eyes and imagine your own meadow. You may be lucky enough to be able to look out of your window and see a meadow or fields. Do you have anything at home that reminds you of the sounds you might find in a meadow or perhaps some flowers or smells that would make you think of the meadow.

Please relax, listen to the music, look at the picture, imagine your own meadow and take deep breaths.

Mr Blue Sky: Part 3 – Verses 2 and 3 

Today we are going to learn two more parts of Mr Blue Sky, fortunately they have the same tune and we can practise them all in the same video. The words are;

Runnin’ down the avenue
See how the sun shines brightly in the city
On the streets where once was pity
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey hey

Hey you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race
A celebration, Mr. Blue Sky’s up there waitin’
And today is the day we’ve waited for.

Music With Emmeline – Tuesday 26th May

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Familiar Song: Rain is Falling Down

Rain is falling down is a very popular anticipation song with many of our pupils. Can you follow the song, sing along and make your own Splash noise? You could even have an imaginary puddle to jump into if you would prefer this to playing an instrument on the SPLASH!

Mr Blue Sky: Part 2 – Verse 1 

Today we will learn the first part of Mr Blue Sky. Here are the words;

Sun is shinin’ in the sky
There ain’t a cloud in sight
It’s stopped rainin’ everybody’s in the play
And don’t you know
It’s a beautiful new day, hey hey