Make Your Own Comic Strips

MakeBeliefsComix.com lets students write and illustrate their own comic strips online and email them to family and friends. Available in seven languages, the tool is easy to use and fun to play with.

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Special-Needs/

Source: Source: NEA Today (30 Free Things for You - And Then Some!) - http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HE/30freethings.pdf

Dinosaur Puzzle/Token Board

A dinosaur puzzle that could also be used as a token economy board. From Building Blox: http://www.buildingblox.net/images/dinosaur_token_board.pdf


If your child or students love dinosaurs, check out these dinosaur token economy boards from Positively Autism:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dinosaur-Token-Economy-1185770

 

Online Reading/Phonics Games

A great site with free online games for teaching reading and phonics skills. http://www.starfall.com/

Online Storytime

Barnes and Noble offers an "online storytime" with children's books read aloud along with pictures from the book. My students love these! This might be a fun way to spend some time while the kids are out of school.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/index.asp

3 Great Train Learning Videos

I'm doing a train theme for my students this month, and have found a few educational YouTube videos that feature trains. My students have been enjoying them!

Number Train: http://youtu.be/SkXfvAjZjFk

Color Train: http://youtu.be/MZ8m2x0qbuo

Shape Train: http://youtu.be/6I2N-jCbha8

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Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

Artist with Autism's Drawing App

A free online drawing app from Stephen Wiltshire, an artist with autism who creates detailed cityscapes. The app will only work with certain internet browsers, but it is also works with iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.

http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/drawing_app.aspx

Sensory Friendly Movie Screening

This isn't free, but I wanted to let you all know about it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
July 23
10 a.m. local time

More information: http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/events/sensory-friendly-films/
Find a theatre: http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/events/sensory-friendly-films/#theatres

Please note that this movie is rated PG-13‎.

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LEGO Harry Potter Quidditch Match (4737)


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

NASA Multimedia Video Gallery

A gallery of online videos about NASA missions, information, and events. http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html

Here's are the ones my son liked best:

Dora the Explorer Supermarket Bingo (good picture source)

A free printable bingo game with pictures (and text labels) of various foods. You could use it as a bingo game or cut the pictures out as a source for picture communication or picture flash cards for language and vocabulary development.

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/doras-supermarket-bingo.jhtml

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Count with Dora! (Dora the Explorer)

Kids Connect the Dots App

My son played this game for Android phones this weekend, and loved it! I thought it might be good for helping children with autism learn both numbers and other vocabulary, as it says the name of each number as you connect the line to it and shows a graphic and spoken name of the object made by connecting the lines. It seems very visually-structured, so I think it would be beneficial for children with autism, as visual processing is often an area of strength.

There is a free version of the app, as well as a paid version that has more puzzles. It may be available on other phones as well. You could do a search on your phone's app store for "Kids Connect the Dots."

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.anahoret.android.dots

https://market.android.com/details?id=zok.android.dots

Turn Toy Cars Into Mobile Flash Cards

I had to share this very cool idea from SpecialChildren.About.com. This may be a way to make flash cards for fun and motivating by incorporating a special interest. I'm pretty sure my son will love it!

http://specialchildren.about.com/u/sty/youradviceneeded/learningtools/Turn-Toy-Cars-Into-Mobile-Flash-Cards.htm

Sensory Friendly Film - Feb. 12

The next Sensory Friendly Film (not technically free, but a good deal)

Gnomeo & Juliet
February 12
10 a.m. local time

Find a theatre: http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/events/sensory-friendly-films/

About:
"In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Tickets are $4-6 depending on location and can be purchased on the day of the event."

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Social Story - The Restaurant and the Movies

Online Game: Shape Train

A shape matching game with a train theme from Aven's Corner. I can't wait to show this one to my son!

http://avenscorner.com/flashgamepage.aspx?gameurl=shapetrain/shapetrain

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Clothespin Dinosaur

A great craft idea from "No Time for Flash Cards." Could be used as a motivating fine motor skill activity for children with a special interest in dinosaurs.

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2009/02/we-dig-dinosaurs.html

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Thanksgiving Fun!

Here are a few coloring pages and activities your child may enjoy today. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving Book (fill in details about your family): http://www.abcteach.com/free/members/21977.pdf

Thanksgivng Coloring Pages: http://www.coloringpages.net/thanksgiving.html