Grant Brings Teaching Artist To Special Needs Classes At Whiting School

(Photo Courtesy Manchester Township School District)

Students at Whiting Elementary School in the special needs classrooms received a visit from a professional teaching artist recently from the Young Audiences program, thanks to funding from Autism Speaks, according to a news release from the Manchester Township School District.

Young Audiences provides services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Michelle Marigliano, the special projects and assessment coordinator for Young Audiences, coordinated a hands-on project and great tactile experience for the students.

Ms. Gould’s and Miss Morgado’s students were introduced to weaving tapestries with floor looms and exploring different textures. They were joined by some of their fifth-grade buddies, who were great at guiding and supporting the students in those two classes during their new endeavor, the release said.

Michele visited the preschool disabilities morning and afternoon classes too. She created a sensory experience that captured the students’ curiosity and creativity as they spent an afternoon immersed in the smell of gingerbread play dough that looked and smelled like cookie dough.

While exploring a variety of textured items such as cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves, and buttons, the students sang songs and shared spontaneous language.

On the second visit to the classrooms, Michelle gathered the children on the carpet and engaged them in a sing-along activity about gingerbread. The children were encouraged to tap a beat on their knees and to add their own ideas about what substance gingerbread men cookies could be dipped in. The students named things like ketchup, snow, honey, milk, and blue icing.

After that they huddled into a closer circle to play a fun version of “Duck, Duck, Goose” called “Walk, Walk, RUN!” and finished the visit with another game called “Baker, Baker, What Time Is It?”