These International Day of Persons with Disabilities Activities are very popular in December, but they can be used any time of the school year. They provide fun and engaging learning experiences to help you celebrate (International Day of Persons with Disabilities with your class. Check out all of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities activities below!
12 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Activities
Below are our favorite International Day of Persons with Disabilities activities.
1. Inclusion SEL Unit
Are your students leaving others out of activities and hurting each other’s feelings? This doesn’t help build a classroom community and you are likely feeling frustrated. Bring back the joy of teaching by implementing these SEL teaching resources. They will help you support your students in developing strong social emotional learning skills, specifically in the area of inclusion. They’ll learn to include others and make sure everyone feels welcome. Learn more about this print-and-go Inclusion Unit in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
2. Strengths and Challenges SEL Unit
Are your students struggling with accurate self perception? Are they setting goals that aren’t realistic or are too easy? You are losing valuable teaching time when this happens and are likely feeling frustrated. Bring back the joy of teaching by implementing these SEL teaching resources. They will help you support your students in developing strong social emotional learning skills, specifically in the area of strengths and challenges. They’ll learn how to identify their strengths and challenges and learn strategies for managing them. Learn more about this Strengths and Weaknesses Unit in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
3. Kindness SEL Unit
Are your students using unkind words with each other? Are they hurting each other’s feelings? You are losing valuable teaching time when this happens and are likely feeling frustrated. Bring back the joy of teaching by implementing these SEL teaching resources. They will help you support your students in developing strong social emotional learning skills, specifically in the area of kindness. They’ll learn different ways to show kindness to others. Learn more about this Kindness Unit in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
4. Individuality SEL Unit
Are your students struggling with appreciating each other’s differences? Are they struggling with identifying their own unique qualities? Teach students to appreciate what makes themselves special by implementing these SEL teaching resources. They will help you support your students in developing strong social emotional learning skills, specifically in the area of individuality. They’ll learn to better recognize their own strengths. Learn more about this Individuality Unit in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
5. Rescue and Jessica Read Aloud Activities
This Rescue and Jessica Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
Rescue and Jessica is about a young girl named Jessica who lost her leg in an accident. It was difficult for her to have her leg amputated. She had to learn how to move with a prosthetic. While she was learning about her new leg, a dog named Rescue was learning how to be a service dog. When she applies for her own service dog, she learns that Rescue will be her new companion. The two make a great team and Rescue helps Jessica in her daily life. He is even more important to her when the other leg must be amputated as well. The pair must start all over and learn how to work together.
Students will love this heartwarming story about a service dog and his partner. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
6. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures Read Aloud Activities
This The Girl Who Thought in Pictures Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures follows the life of Temple Grandin. The story starts off with Temple being born, and the doctors thinking that she needed to be sent away because she was different. Temple liked to watch things spin, did not like loud noises or crowds, anything that was itchy, or big squeezy hugs. She also did not talk until she was three. Temple was diagnosed with Autism.
When Temple went to school, the children there would tease her relentlessly. One day, Temple’s mom thinks that it would be better for Temple to stay on her aunt’s ranch. There, Temple finally feels comfortable and explores ways to help animals. Temple goes to college and gets three degrees. Now she travels the world giving speeches and spreading the message that the world needs brains of all kinds.
Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
7. My Brother Charlie Read Aloud Activities
This My Brother Charlie Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
My Brother Charlie is about Callie and Charlie, who are twins. They both have curly hair and brown eyes, and love hot chocolate with marshmallows. However, even when they were very little, Callie and her mother knew Charlie was different. It was difficult for him to say, “I love you,” and he was very quiet. They learned that Charlie had autism which makes some things more challenging for him. Throughout the book, Callie teaches readers about her brother Charlie and what it is like having a brother with autism.
This heartwarming story about siblings is a great way to teach young readers about appreciating diversity. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
8. Pigsty Read Aloud Activities
This Pigsty Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
In Pigsty, Wendell Fultz’s room is a mess! When his mother pronounces his room a “pigsty” and sends him upstairs to clean it, Wendell finds a large pig lounging on the bed. Wendell doesn’t seem to mind. Instead, he rearranges the mess and joins in the fun. His mother gives up, and for the next week, Wendell happily spends his time with his new friends. Wendell and the pigs enjoy having pillow fights and playing Monopoly together.
Soon after, a second pair of pigs shows up and the four of them add to the mess in Wendell’s room. The pigs even start ruining Wendell’s toys, and he has to admit that the mess is getting to be too much. Wendell has the pigs help him clean his room and they move out.
This story can be connected to ADHD. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
9. Just Ask! Read Aloud Activities
This Just Ask! Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
Just Ask! starts off with the author explaining that she and her friends are building a garden. Just like things in the garden are different, her friends are too. Sonia encourages readers to ask questions when they are curious about someone.
Throughout the book, readers are introduced to the children that are working in the garden. Each one is diverse and explains what makes them unique. There are blind and deaf children, some have medical conditions like allergies or diabetes, and some have conditions like Autism, Down syndrome, or Tourette’s.
Sonia celebrates the differences of all the children and sends a message that it is okay to ask questions when you don’t understand something. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
10. Thank You, Mr. Falker Read Aloud Activities
This Thank You, Mr. Falker Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
Thank You, Mr. Falker is a story about a girl named Trisha who loved being read to and couldn’t wait until she learned to read herself. However, when Trisha started school, reading did not come easy to her. Her classmates continued to move forward in reading but Trisha struggled to sound out words. Throughout her years in school, Trisha’s classmates would laugh at her and call her names.
When Trisha started fifth grade, her teacher was Mr. Falker. He was always supportive of her and her gift of drawing. Students continued to call her awful names, and she started to believe them. Soon, Mr. Falker realized how much Trisha was struggling and that she learned differently. He started staying after school with her, determined to teach her how to read. After months of practice, she was excited to be able to read a paragraph. Years later, she saw Mr. Falker again and explained that she grew up to be an author.
This story connects to Dyslexia. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
11. Madeline Finn and the Library Dog Read Aloud Activities
This Madeline Finn and The Library Dog Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
Madeline Finn does not like reading of any kind. She has a hard time figuring out the words and makes mistakes. When she reads out loud in class, students giggle. Madeline’s teacher gives out stars to students that are good readers and she never gets one. Instead, Madeline gets a heart that says keep trying.
This story connects to Dyslexia. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
12. Hooway for Wodney Wat Read Aloud Activities
This Hooway for Wodney Wat Book Companion is packed with lesson ideas and activities for reading, writing, grammar, SEL and more, that are all based on this story.
In Hooway for Wodney Wat, the main character Rodney Rat has a problem. He can’t pronounce the letter r very well. When he tries to say his name, it comes out like WODNEY WAT. His classmates tease him making Rodney the shyest student in his class.
This story connects to speech disorders. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
In closing, we hope you found this list of International Day of Persons with Disabilities activities helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these other related posts:
