Lesson SEN 14
Task: Put an object in a container.
Prerequisites: SEN 13
Concept: This activity attempts to provide purpose to the prerequisite skill of picking up objects with the fingers (SEN 13). In addition, hand-eye coordination is also being improved, as normally that ability is needed to perform this skill. If the student has visual problems, the hand-eye concept can be replaced with tactile awareness improvements.
Behavioral Objective: When requested to place 10 small items in a container with an opening of about 4 square inches, the student will place those items in the container to a 90% accuracy level for 20 trials.
Materials: Items that require a pincer grasp (see SEN 13) and at least three containers, one with an opening of about 24 square inches, one with an opening of about 12 square inches, and one with an opening of about 4 square inches. For safety reasons, plastic is preferred over glass.
Task Analysis:
1. Using the largest container (see the materials section), physically guide the student through the process of picking up the items and placing them in the container. In addition to the physical prompt, provide a lot of verbal encouragement and praise.
2. Continue Step 1, reducing the physical guidance until only gestural prompting is needed along with the verbal prompting.
3. Continue Step 2, reducing the gestural prompting until only verbal cues are needed.
4. Modify Step 3 by replacing the large container with the medium-size container.
5. Modify Step 4 by replacing the medium-size container with the smaller one. Continue until the objective is met.