Using the microwave, boiling water for pasta, and using a knife to make a sandwich are all independent living skills. Prepare your special needs learners for life by having them prepare three easy-to-cook items. Each skill is laid out as...

Get to talking with your special needs class. In pairs, they take turns telling each other where to go on a schematic map. They work to ask questions, answer questions, and check if their partner understands their directions, or if he...

Emotions come in all shapes and sizes, and can be difficult for young learners or students with special needs to identify. Support them in gaining the valuable social skill of recognizing emotions and understanding empathy with this...

I love planning parties, they are a great way to get social, require organizational skills, and engage cooperative problem solving. Teens with visual impairments put their heads together to plan an event for their friends. They...

Mittens and socks, two of my favorite clothing items!  Young learners with special needs, explore clothing appropriate for cold weather. They identify both socks and mittens, discuss weather appropriate clothing, and listen to the...

Did you ever play capture the flag? I did, and it was so much fun! Your learners with special needs, physical handicaps, or visual impairments can play a classic and highly engaging game with a few minor adaptations. The best part is,...

Golf is a popular game that is enjoyed around the world. Invite your pupils with visual impairments or blindness to putt a few balls or make a hole in one. This lesson plan provides several very good suggestions as to how you can teach...

Maybe the idea of putting placemats on trays doesn't sound that great, but it is, especially if you have a physical disability or are visually impaired. This task is one that can be used in a vocational setting and helps develop skills...

Drill and practice is the method of teaching for today. Special needs pupils practice rounding to the next dollar value when purchasing an item at the store. They are shown flash cards with a monetary value, they then have 3-5 seconds to...

Best resource ever! Teaching and learning to teach ASL just got easier. For special education teachers or those working with hearing impaired students, this lesson provides story and time telling practice using ASL. Each blue link you...

There are so many different types of tools we use in the kitchen, everyday. Help your special needs learner discover how to recognize, identify, and use various kitchen utensils and appliances. Using picture cards and drill prompting,...

Children with special needs participate in several activities to reinforce shape and color recognition. They sign the word leaf, sing a song about leaves, and bounce leaves around on a parachute. They then help the instructor name...

Appropriate assertive and non-verbal assertive communication is the focus of this lesson designed for the special education classroom. Using mirrors, class members practice assertive responses to a variety of situations.

Some students struggle in social situations or when it comes to conversing with peers. Conversation is key in developing relationships and in building strong social skills. This app can be used to help children with social anxiety, ASD,...

I really like this activity. Learners with special needs play a stoplight game to practice giving and responding to the need for personal space. Each child is given a green light and red light card, when you say, "Go" they walk around...

What are some of the essential items and words students need to know for going to class? Designed for special education students but with a variety of applications, here you'll find a set of 12 picture cards that include images...

Another awesome ASL lesson plan! Teach ASL to a special ed class, hearing impaired child, or for your own enrichment. This lesson plan provides comprehensible ASL language development. Each highlighted blue area links to a video,...

Talk with your pupils about the importance of staying focused at the grocery store. Your special education class will discuss how to create and use a shopping list. They will make a shopping list and pretend to use it in a role-play...

The ASL lessons from lifeprint are amazing, but can be complicated. While this lesson is perfect for those needing to learn or teach ASL to the deaf community, it could also provide a valuable communication tool. This resource features...

Don't forget to brush! Help your special education class excel at taking care of their wonderful smiles. They'll discuss proper brushing and flossing techniques, watch a video on dental hygiene, and then brush their teeth. 

A series of food-related sentences and words are the focus of this practical and straight-forward lesson. With a 70 minute video lecture and ASL demo, this resource features images and clips of very useful ASL vocabulary words. While it...

Using an adaptive shopping list, special needs learners take a trip to the grocery store. Instead of words, their list contains pictures of the items they need to find and purchase at the store. They run through several practice and...

Nails can get really dirty really fast. Prepare your special education class for life on their own by introducing them to a regular nail care routine. They discuss why it is important to care for your nails and practice washing,...

Here is a great way to bring core content to your special education classroom. Included is a set of instructional ideas intended to help learners increase their verbal and written expression through storytelling. Tape recorders, story...