Lava in a Cup

http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/lavacup.php

I found this science experiment on Science Bob's website. It has so many cool experiments but I was especially looking for one that wouldn't cause a big mess.

Materials needed:

• Vegetable oil
• Water
• Salt
• Food coloring
• Clear cup 
• Lava in a Cup worksheet

For this experiment I wanted to incorporate some of my therapy goals (using superlatives, reading/following directions, and using "first, then, finally" to organize thoughts). The whole point of the experiment is to see how "heaviness" impacts how things float. Oil is lighter than water so it floats. However, when salt lands on the oil, it brings it down into the water. As the salt dissolves, the oil bobs back to the top.

First, the child can read the instructions and perform the experiment. After brainstorming why the experiment might work we'll start working on the worksheet:

This worksheet took me far too long to make!

The child can fill in the superlatives: heavy __oil___, heavier __water__, heaviest __salt__. Then he/she will detail what happened in the experiment "First, Then, Finally."

I'm going to save all of the experiment worksheets that we do so that there will be a "Book of Experiments" by the end of the semester. 

Lesson planning fun!

I've caught the lesson planning bug. I'm almost worried that my first few therapy sessions will be super cool and then I'll lose excitement and be the worst SLP ever. But, so far, lesson ideas just keep coming.

I've been bouncing ideas off my friends and pinteresting up a storm. I love the idea of collaborating for lessons... you just get such good ideas that way. So lately, my friend Holly and I had been brainstorming together about using kid bowling sets in our sessions. My only concern was finding a kid bowling set that was cheap and cute. Well, today I was at lunch and Holly sent me a text: "They have bowling at white elephant! $12!"

I turned to my boyfriend and exclaimed, "We gotta go!" So we raced down to the store and met up with Holly. And I got the last bowling set!

Moral of the story: brainstorm with friends, pinterest, and stop everything to get to the best deals.

Here is the adorable bowling set 

                                                                              

There are so many ways to use the bowling in therapy, just add velcro and go! 

Some ideas:

• Add a sight word on each pin. When the child knocks over the pin they have to identify the word. 
• Velcro a spelling word to a pin. For each pin that is knocked over, the child has to spell it aloud and then write it on their bowling worksheet. 
• Use as a fun, non-educational reward for good behavior

I'm planning on using my new set within the next two weeks so I will post more ideas and pictures as I figure out the lesson.