A squirrel theme is perfect, not only for preschool, but for most of our kids on up through middle school grades!
Who doesn’t love squirrels? They’re cute and live in many of our backyards, making them relatable to many of our students.
One of my favorite benefits of speech therapy themes is that they help with the burnout! Once there is a theme, the sessions become a routine that require much less thought and prep time! But, every time you change up the theme, it feels a little fresh, so nobody is getting bored either!
My Squirrels Themed Language Therapy Unit for Speech Therapy includes everything you need, all the stimulus materials and quality graphic organizers you need for just about your whole caseload!
Simple Ways to Have Fun with a Squirrel Theme for Preschool and up!
Squirrel Themed Games and Activities
If you haven’t played Sneaky Snacky Squirrel, you should check it out! It’s relatively simple, like Hi Ho Cherry-o and can be used as an open-ended reinforcer for any of your drill-based therapy needs.
Maybe you’ll get lucky and find one at Goodwill!
And really, what’s a squirrel theme without a scavenger hunt! Channel your inner squirrel by hunting and gathering speech therapy targets! Simple and fun!
And if you’re considering a squirrel theme for preschool, consider making a squirrel sensory bin with things you collect from the backyard. Tiny sticks, leaves, and of course, acorns are the perfect mix. You can use other times of seeds as well.
Squirrel Themed Video
Some of my older kids are super motivated by YouTube videos. Whether it’s a reward for the end of a session of hard work, or something to watch to start up some conversation for fluency or articulation goals, a video, or part of a video, might be all that you need for a little student buy-in.
For a squirrel theme, you have to check out the squirrel ninja warrior video! It’s too long for one session, but you could easily break it up, or just give a little teaser.
Target Language with a Squirrel Theme
There are lots of other simple ways to include the squirrel theme into your therapy:
- Take speech therapy outside and practice putting acorns under a tree, on a rock, or in a hole.
- Model/identify different attributes (sizes and colors) of squirrels: get the squirrel with the BIG tail, make the fuzzy squirrel jump, etc.
- Work on body parts and simple directions and prepositions by putting an animal on your head, on your hand, in the tree, etc.
- Ask simple wh- questions about the farm: What animal says “moo”? Where do the squirrels live? When does the squirrel collect acorns?
- Go on an acorn scavenger hunt using multi-step or multiple modifiers with simple construction paper acorns or real ones you collect yourself (Example: Find the big acorn under the table).
- Name parts of a squirrel (Example: paws, tail, ears, etc.)
- And most importantly: Listen to what your child says and recast and expand!
Hands on Squirrel Theme Activities for Preschool Through 2nd Grade
My Speech and Language Therapy Lesson Plans for Back to School & Fall packet has 12 different themes, each with 2 crafts, 2 activities, and 2 story books per theme, including a squirrel theme! It’s the perfect therapy tool for those kids who like hands-on and play-based activities.
If you’d like therapy ideas for the whole autumn season, definitely check it out!
Squirrel Themed Language Speech Therapy Unit
My themed language units includes all the materials you need to target:
- Core vocabulary (do, want)
- Basic concepts (fast, between)
- Categories (animals)
- Describing (squirrels and animals)
- Tier 2 vocabulary (balance, gather, search, collect, common)
- Prefix/suffix (-ing, out-)
- Inferencing/predicting
- Sentence combining
- Comprehending narrative texts
- Comprehending non-fiction texts
- WH questions
- Comparing and contrasting
- Actions/verbs
We’re talking over 100 pages of squirrel themed goodness, with gorgeous photos, helpful icons, and systematic instructional materials.
Other SLPs absolutely LOVE my squirrel themed pack. Here is some feedback I’ve received:
“This packet is amazing! This is easily enough material to do for at least 1 month and supplement as she suggest with additional books (e.g. Chipmunk vs. squirrel book or Those Darn Squirrels/ Scaredy Squirrel books). The vocabulary, suffix, verbs, antonyms, etc.. are all amazing and right on point with curriculum learning. The Boom card additions are FANTASTIC and really up engagement. Will be purchasing the other units!!”
— Julie N.
“Best resource I have ever downloaded – having the pages separated into sections is so helpful for quickly selecting the needed activity for a specific group/goal. The theme is relatable to my students and a part of their daily lives (squirrels are EVERYWHERE in Mississippi). This resource has decreased my stress related to therapy planning, and I can’t wait to make even better use of it next year.”
— Hannah M.
Have fun in your therapy sessions and get the work done!
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