Your special education students can memorize their personal information. In order to master their personal information, they create a photo book to help them remember names, birthdays, addresses, phone numbers, then take pictures to...

Students explore human behavior by exploring mental and physical disabilities. For this learning disability lesson, students identify the different disabilities students have which prevent them from working at the same pace as the rest...

To learn about various topics and improve their social skills, learners with special needs play along with music on drums and other sound objects. Teachers take digital pictures of the students participation and use them to make bulletin...

Fun is in the air as learners with special needs engage in sensory-filled activities. They discuss color, snow, cold, winter, and body parts while touching and smelling various objects. They discuss the parts of the body with relation to...

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...

Such an ambitious lesson! Third graders with special needs listen to an audio recording of the novel, Moby Dick. They stop often to discuss each of the main characters and analyze their actions in the story. They then make puppets of one...

Use photographs to teach young special education or speech students how good speech looks, as well as sounds. Kindergarteners are photographed making the F, TH, W, R L, and S sounds. They then use the images to identify each sound that...

Students investigate the effects of autism by creating a slide-show presentation.  In this special needs lesson, students define autism and the mental health problems it can cause young people afflicted with it.  Students...

Here's a great way to combine environmental science with art. Kids use recycled materials to create their own Gawu, a tapestry made of discards. Although designed for special education classrooms, the activity is sure to engage all...

Add watercolors to white glue, paint onto clear film paper, fold, open, and voila, a butterfly! This art project, designed for special education classes, but perfect for any classroom, is sure to engage your young artists.

Kiln-glazed ceramics not an option? Kids can create their own art nouveau tiles using ceramic bisque tiles. The packet includes a video to prepare and inspire your artists, as well as detailed directions for various age groups, a...

The work of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt is used to inspire kids to create their own mixed media works. Although designed for the special education classroom, the activity is sure to inspire all kids.

Third graders read the book Sahara Special and participate in comprehension activities. In this realistic fiction lesson, 3rd graders create a brochure for where they live. Students have personal bags, a brown paper bag, that they fill...

Intended for an Autism class, this lesson teaches self-expression through music while facilitating an understanding of the concept of tempo. Pupils engage in a call-and-response song, clap, discuss, and sing keeping feelings and...

An art activity can benefit special needs pupils in a variety of ways. The class creates mono prints. Focus on increasing motor skills development, expressive communication, and safe handling of materials. Discuss or show a video of...

This is a very simple idea, learners make note cards or stationery out of their recycled art work. Note: I have done a version of this, where I've had my special needs learners paint on card stock or watercolor paper. I then cut each...

Students in a special education classroom examine the various types of molds made by natives. As a class, they brainstorm a list of the types of molds that are made today by different processes. They are given an amount of clay in which...

Students in a special education class are read "The Velveteen Rabbit". Using construction paper, they draw two of their own rabbits making one look shabby and one brand new. To end the lesson, they use markers to color the rabbit and...

Students in a special education class examine the nocturnal animals in their local area. Individually, they use the internet to research owls and share it with the class. To end the lesson, they use construction paper to make a...

Explore communication techniques by using the latest video technology.  In this special education lesson, students create a video discussing their own social goals for the future.  Students utilize Flip Video cameras to...

Pop music and marketing are thrown into the mix to make a fun and engaging lesson. Learners listen to several pop songs and discuss the differences in musical style. They then get into groups and work together to decide how they are...

Young artists don't need to be skateboarders to enjoy this assignment. Class members use the provided worksheet to craft 10 sketches that convey action or motion using no more than seven lines. They then select their three best ideas and...

Need a musical lesson for your drama or performing arts class? VH1 has put together a really neat lesson, in which learners use biographical information about Alicia Keys to write and perform a one-act musical related to her life. This...

Students conclude and acknowledge that each person is unique and special. For this I Am Special lesson plan, students compare their digital photograph to pictures of people in magazines to determine likenesses/differences. They describe...