This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission at no cost to you if you decide to make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Do you run whole group speech and language therapy lessons during the week? Us too! This week we have decided to do a food themed whole group speech lesson as we head into the month of November. However, these speech and language activities are perfect anytime. Check out our food themed activities for an awesome whole group speech lesson any time of the year!
We like being overly prepared for whole group speech therapy lessons. Typically we have four or five activities ready to go for a 20-30 minute large group session. And since we did the work for you this week, you will be extra prepared! So here are our five food themed activity ideas to do with a large whole class group!
Looking for more tips and tricks for planning a large group speech and language session? Check out our 5 Tips For Planning A Productive Large Speech & Language Group blog post here!
Whole Group Speech Activity #1: Themed Book
We like starting each whole group speech and language lesson with a themed book! There are so many awesome food themed stories out there for a variety of student levels. Mandy and I both like having the book to present while reading as well as playing the YouTube link for students to follow along.
For this week’s food themed book, we choose Monsters Don’t Like Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks. our students and own kids love this book! After reading the story at home, my first grader can often be heard saying the key phrase from the story while playing. It’s that catchy!
Whole Group Speech Activity #2: Interactive Fun
Now that we picked our literacy piece to our whole group speech lesson, we like to include an interactive activity. All of our classrooms have Smartboards or BenQ boards so we often use BOOM Cards. In case your classrooms do not, we are sharing a non-Smartboard activity as well!
Technology Activity
Our students love BOOM Cards! And BOOM Cards are perfect for large group speech sessions! Students can each take a turn moving items, clicking answers, and formulating responses. We love the functional skills inadvertently targeted such as waiting, listening, and addressing a group when answering.
For our food themed whole group speech lesson, this Lunchbox Game: Following Directions by Teaching Sensory Explorers. Students will follow 1-step directions to make yummy lunches! In between turns, have students identify, label, and describing the food items. In addition, students can state whether or not they like each food item and explain why.
In addition, I like to send a parent email home at the end of each week with a summary of my whole group lessons. Through the BOOM Cards website, you can create a “fast pin” link with a password. This link alongs parents to access the deck of BOOM Cards at home for one week. Perfect for carry-over at home and additional practice. Plus parents love seeing what their child worked on during the school day!
Non-Technology Activity
We love this Pack A Lunch Following Direction & Describing Activity to target basic (colors, actions, etc.), spatial (on, above, under, between, next to, etc.), sequential (first, second, third), temporal (before, after), and other descriptive concepts.
Typically, we print and laminate all for repeated use. We like to stick a magnet on the back of each item and use a metal cookie sheet for a whole class display. Students can help pack a “lunch” with lots of favorites like cookies, chocolate milk, apples, bananas, goldfish crackers, and more.
In addition, this food activity includes an awesome describing tool as well. Read aloud a description of a packed lunch (use the visual provided or not depending on level of class!). Each student can hold a picture of a packed lunch while listening. Have students match their lunch to the description. To further extend the activity, students can compare and contrast lunches, explain likes and dislikes, or verbally add more favorite lunch items!
Grab your Pack A Lunch Following Direction & Describing Activity here!
Whole Group Speech Activity #3: Fine Motor
Another great way to engage students during a whole group lesson is to keep their hands busy! We love to utilize Speech Tree Co food mini items for a fun turn taking activity. Grab yourself this adorable monster snack cup here to go perfectly with our themed food book this week. Give each student a mini food item then have them label or describe before placing into the monster.
Another great way to use this cup and mini food item duo is to place all the food into the monster. Students can take turns choosing an item and sharing with the class what they picked. Not only will your students love this activity, but your fellow occupational therapists will love it too!
Whole Group Speech Activity #4: Music Time!
No whole group speech lesson is complete without a solid song! Our favorite food themed song is Do You Like Broccoli Ice Cream? which goes along perfectly with our monster broccoli story and monster snack cup activity. Our students and own children absolutely love this song so we know it is a good one!
Whole Group Speech Activity #5: Carry-Over Task
If you have gotten through all of the above activities and need another engaging task before your assigned time is up, we have just the thing! Print these Interactive Food Language Mini-Books for each student. Read the mini-books together as a whole class then send home for additional practice with parents.
Grab a set of these awesome Interactive Food Language Mini-Books here!
Best part? There are full-sized color copies of each language book for the teacher or clinician. These are ideal for reenforcing concepts in the whole group lesson, but can also be placed in classroom libraries for additional exposure and carry over too.
Looking for more easy, no prep speech and language materials? Check out our free resource library! Once you have access, you will also receive weekly emails with freebies, large and small group activities, and time saving resources.
Whether you are planning for the week of Thanksgiving or just need a generic themed lesson, we hope you have found some food inspiration for your next whole group speech lesson! Tried one of these activities out? Let us know on social media. We would love to hear how it went!
Kate & Mandy
Talking Mama Bears
