The ‘BIG A’

1. The ‘BIG A’ Activity Pack for Kids Who Have Autism & Asperger Syndrome

2. Section 1 – Myself & Autism • This is Me • Autism is Another Thing About Me • True & False Cards • People Who are Important to Me & Understand Me • New People & Things at School

3. Reading Spelling Writing Drawing & art work Computers Computer Games Maths & Numbers Remembering things Music Facts about my favourite thing, which is; Stories Photography Sports Cooking Cleaning Tidying up Putting things in order Mechanical things Making things What else? This is Me My name isI have lots of strengths and talents, including; I will tick the things that are true for me.

4. Something Else About Me is Autism • There are people all over the place who have something called autism, probably in every school as well. • People who have autism are all different. Some people might have the sort of autism that is called Asperger Syndrome. I will circle the thing I have got; Autism Asperger Syndrome Autism means I might need help with; • Social Skills (getting on with others) • Communication Skills (having conversations) • Ways of Thinking (understanding things) I will tick which affect me the most.

5. True or False Cards About Autism Autism is invisible & no one can see it? Autism effects the way my brain works? People with autism can’t do what other people do? Autism means that I have something wrong with me? Autism means that I might do things differently from most people? Autism means that I might have trouble understanding other people?

6. True or False Cards About Autism People who have autism have it all their life? Autism makes me get really worried about some things? People with autism are all over the world, in every country? Autism means that other people don’t like me? Autism means that I won’t be as clever as other people? Autism means that I won’t be able to make friends?

7. People Who Are Important to Me & Understand Me I will write the names of my important people in each circle.

8. New People & Things at SchoolAutism means that I might have trouble with things that are different from the normal routine Things that bother me at school include; • Supply teachers • Student teachers • New teaching assistants • Visitors in the classroom • Having my desk moved • Having to sit somewhere else • Sitting next to different people • Standing in a line with lots of people • Going into the dining room • Being in the playground with everyone • Another thing is; I will tick the things that bother me at school.

9. Section 2 – Learning Style & Senses • Special Interests • My Learning Style • Being Perfect Cards • My Senses & How They Effect My Learning Style • Sensory Likes & Dislikes

10. Special InterestsEveryone has interests but having autism can help me to be very focused about mine My favourite special interests are; 1 2 3 I like to enjoy my special interest by; • Talking about it • Reading about it • Thinking about it • Writing about it • Drawing pictures about it • What else? I will tick the things that I do.

11. My Learning StyleEveryone learns but they do it in different ways. Autism might effect my learning style. I learn best when; • I can see what people are doing • The room is noisy and busy • I can see pictures of the things I am going to do • I have lots of written words and information • Someone explains things to me a few times • I am too hot and bothered • I am sitting with my friends • My special interest is involved I will put a tick if I agree, or a cross if I disagree.

12. I want my work to be perfect every time I want to be the best at all of the work I do I erase my work many times until it looks perfect Being Perfect Cards

13. If my work doesn’t look right I get frustrated or angry I have to finish my work first or I get upset It puts me off if I don’t have the right pen or the sharpest pencil Being Perfect Cards

14. I always have to be the first In line I get upset if I haven’t finished my work but I have to stop I always have to put my hand up to answer questions Being Perfect Cards

15. My Senses & How They Effect My Learning Style • We have five main senses and lots more as well, like balance and temperature, but the ones we are thinking about today are; Taste Sight Smell Touch Hearing • People with autism might have different ways of experiencing senses On the next sheet I will circle the things to do with the senses that I like, and cross the ones I don’t like.

16. Sensory Likes & Dislikes Being Touched Smell of Perfume Strong Tastes Movement Around Me Running Around Loud Noises Some Food Textures Some Colours Being Too Hot Stretching My Fingers Some Fabrics Sudden Noises Flashing Lights Quiet Noises Having a bath or Shower Smell of Cooking

17. Section 3 – Getting On With Others • What is Communication? • Conversations Can Be Confusing! • Talking Too Much Or Not Enough • What Are They Communicating Cards • Being Honest & Polite • Being Honest & Polite Chart

18. What is Communication?Communication is a bit like putting my thoughts into words and saying them to other people, and listening to their thoughts. • Here are other ways of communicating I will think of some other ways of communicating and write them on the lines above. My favourite ways of communicating are,

19. Conversations Can Be Confusing! Conversations might be confusing because; • I don’t understand what the person means • Talking and listening at the same time is too difficult for me • I don’t have anything to say • It is difficult to put my thoughts into words • The other person goes too fast for me • I can’t concentrate on what people say • I’m not interested in talking to others • I don’t know when to start or stop talking • I’m worried about saying the wrong thing I will tick the things that are true for me and cross out those that are not true.

20. Talking Too Much Or Not EnoughSome people who have autism talk too much or not at all. The way I talk is, Enough Too Much Not Enough I will circle the thing that fits me most My thoughts about talking are; • I like to talk to • I don’t like to talk to • I want to talk to • I want to talk about • I might be quiet because

21. What Are They Communicating Cards

22. What Are They Communicating Cards

23. What Are They Communicating Cards

24. What Are They Communicating Cards

25. What Are They Communicating Cards

26. What Are They Communicating Cards

27. What Are They Communicating Thought Bubbles I’m shy It’s funny We’re happy together Well done! Which one should I choose? I’m cold

28. What Are They Communicating Thought Bubbles Be quiet! Yipeeeeee! Leave me alone! I don’t know I’m upset I’m bored

29. Being Honest & PoliteBeing honest means saying what is true and being polite means not saying things that might hurt someone’s feelings • Here are some things that are honest but might not be polite for me to say and some things that are OK to say I will cut out the things and stick them on the chart on the next page, in the right place.

30. Being Honest & Polite Chart

31. Section 4 – Thoughts & Feelings • What Are Thoughts? • Hopes & Fears • Other People’s Thoughts • Feelings Cards • Emotion Meters

32. What Are Thoughts? Thoughts are the things I hear, see or feel in my mind, including; Feelings I am feeling….. __________________ Memories Here’s one of my earliest memories Pictures Here’s something I often see in my mind.

33. Hopes & FearsHopes are thoughts that make me feel good, about things I want to happen and fears are thoughts that make me feel afraid or worried I will write some things that are my hopes and some that are my fears.

34. Other People’s ThoughtsOther people have thoughts too. Here’s what they may be thinking… Go to your room and stay there all night!

36. Feelings Cards

37. Feelings Cards

38. 10 – Lost it! 9 – Angry 8 – Frustrated 7 – Annoyed 6 – Bit upset 5 – Coping 4 – So-so 3 – OK 2 – Cool 1 – Happy Red Means I’m losing it! Orange Means I’m Coping Green Means I’m happy Emotion Meters • There are ways of expressing emotions through emotion meters like the ones here. Using the things on the next page, I will make my own emotion meter to express my emotions.

39. Emotion Meter ResourcesI can use the words & pictures on the next pages to make my personal emotion meter.I can also draw my own pictures if I want to. Lost It! Angry Frustrated Annoyed A Bit Upset Coping So-so OK Cool Happy I’m Losing It I’m Coping I’m Happy

41. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

42. Velcro the arrow onto the face that shows the right mood

43. Alternative & Extension Activities • Card Blanks For Own Words & Pictures • Cut & Stick Thought Bubbles • Emotion Meter Blanks • Make a Poster About Autism • The Big A Participant Evaluation Form

44. Blanks for Making Your Own Word & Picture Cards

45. Cut & Stick Thought Bubbles

46. Cut & Stick Thought Bubbles

47. Cut & Stick Thought Bubbles

48. Cut & Stick Thought Bubbles Yipeeeeee! Be quiet! Leave me alone! I don’t know I’m bored I’m upset It’s funny I’m shy We’re happy together Well done! Which should I choose? I’m cold

50. Velcro the arrow onto the face that shows the right mood