The Girl Who Thought In Pictures – Temple Grandin Autism Awareness Activity
Hey teachers! Looking for free autism awareness activities for kids? I’ve got an AMAZING freebie for you!
Lessons about diversity and acceptance of others are so important in the classroom, especially in elementary school.
When students are taught about what it means to respect one another, no matter what their differences are, they become more well-rounded individuals. I believe that students are never too young to learn about love, respect, and kindness!
It’s not only beneficial to their behavior at school and with their classmates, but to how they view the world around them. Younger students carry these lessons with them for the rest of their lives, and acceptance is a skill they’ll never grow out of.
April is National Autism Awareness Month, and it’s such a good time to bring up all of these themes in the classroom. It’s important for younger students to learn about autism, what it means to be on the spectrum, and how to be a good friend to their peers who have autism. These lifelong lessons also teach kids to appreciate the uniqueness in others, not judge a book by its cover, and stand up to bullying.
For National Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to share an activity that would fit perfectly into an autism unit, a general unit on students who receive special education services, or a unit on diversity. Autism awareness activities for kids are an amazing way to engage younger minds while teaching kindness and acceptance. In my opinion, it’s never a bad time to teach these principles to students!
This FREE Temple Grandin comprehension foldable activity is one of my favorite autism awareness activities for kids. It goes with a wonderful book *affiliate link, The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin. The book tells the story of Dr. Temple Grandin, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age.
Because of her autism, she behaved differently to the other kids, and wasn’t much of a talker. Since the other kids at school didn’t understand her, they picked on her. But her unique abilities let her think about and connect with animals on a special level. Eventually, she grew up to be one of the most renowned scientists in the world. She actually reinvented farm designs to be kinder to farm animals — and her impact changed how these structures work, all over the world!
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures is an inspiring, kid-friendly tale that approaches autism in a relatable and understandable way. Your students will love hearing Dr. Temple Grandin’s story, and they will surely take the lesson that what makes you unique ought to be celebrated.
What’s included in this FREE Temple Grandin comprehension foldable?
After reading The Girl Who Thought in Pictures as a class, this flip flap comprehension foldable will reinforce the lessons your students learn from the story. They’ll be able to answer comprehension prompts like…
● Listing facts about Dr. Temple Grandin
● Naming the title, author, and illustrator of the book
● Explaining an important quote from the story
The free resource also includes a student reflection piece to encourage each student to find something that makes them unique. Every student will enjoy this part and walk away from the activity feeling more confident in themselves!
How does this Temple Grandin comprehension foldable work?
Depending on your students’ reading level, you can read The Girl Who Thought in Pictures to your class or let students read the story on their own. Then, they will take some time to fill out their answers, reflect on what they’ve learned, and they can take their flip flap foldable home with them at the end of the day.
This foldable would also be great to share with their parents at home. They will be so impressed by the activity, and it might encourage some valuable talks about inclusion and embracing what makes each of us unique!
Download a copy of the Temple Grandin Activity for FREE!
Conclusion
Whether you’re teaching a unit on diversity or looking for autism awareness activities for kids for National Autism Awareness Month, this free Temple Grandin story foldable is a fantastic way to teach important themes to your students. After reading The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin, they’ll feel empowered by their own special qualities and encouraged to be more accepting of others’ differences. No matter how you choose to use this autism awareness freebie in your classroom, this valuable lesson on inclusion and acceptance will be appreciated by students and parents alike.
Be sure to download the FREE Temple Grandin Activity here!How do you like to teach autism awareness and inclusion in the classroom? Have you read The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin with your students? I’d love to hear about all of your experiences!