Extended School Year (ESY) programs play a crucial role in providing continuous learning and support for elementary students with special needs. For speech-language pathologists and special education teachers working in this setting, it is essential to incorporate engaging and stimulating activities during the ESY period. Summer is definitely a more laid-back time and just because students are at school during the summer, it does not have to mean the fun stops. Below, you will find five ESY speech therapy themes to use during the summer with students. You will also find recommended books for each theme, sensory or craft ideas for each and resources to help work on speech and language skills that are related to the theme.
ESY Theme Idea 1: Camping
Camping is the perfect theme for summer because this is the time of year when many families like to go. Camping provides a unique opportunity for students to connect with nature and the outdoors, promoting sensory exploration and a sense of wonder. Moreover, the camping theme lends itself well to language development, as students can learn camping-related vocabulary, share camping experiences, and express their thoughts and feelings about nature and the adventure of camping.
Recommended books for this theme:
Fun Resources & Activities for the Camping Theme:
- Preschool Camping Theme Kit
- Interactive S’more Articulation
- Interactive Vocabulary Books: Camping & Boom Cards
- Color & Play NO PREP Camping Bingo
- Wordless Picture Book Companion: Flashlight
Camping Craft Idea: DIY Binoculars
- Decorate the toilet paper rolls with markers or crayons or even set aside a day to paint them
- Connect the two toilet paper rolls together by either taping them side by side or overlapping them and securing with tape.
- Attach a piece of string or yarn to each side of the binoculars (using a hole punch is usually best), making a loop that can be worn around the neck.
- Let students decorate with other scraps and recycled crafts items .
- Encourage students to go on a pretend camping adventure and use their DIY binoculars to spot wildlife, interesting objects, or imaginary creatures either in your classroom or in an outdoor setting. Encourage students to speak up and tell you what they spot through the binoculars.
This craft not only provides a fun activity for students but also promotes imaginative play, fine motor skills, and vocabulary development as they engage in camping-themed adventures and describe what they see through their binoculars. You can check out a step by step post of how to make these easy binoculars at Happy Toddler Playtime.
ESY Theme Idea 2: Beach
A beach theme is another excellent choice for an ESY speech therapy theme. By incorporating a beach theme, students have the opportunity to expand their vocabulary through beach-related words, such as “sand,” “waves,” and “seashells.” The beach environment also encourages the use of descriptive language as students describe the way sand feels, the sound of the waves, and the smell of the ocean. Additionally, this theme provides social communication practice through role-playing activities like building sandcastles and taking turns in beach-themed games.
Moreover, the beach theme allows for targeted articulation practice, as students can focus on specific speech sounds while using beach-related words (check out the example below.) Overall, using a beach theme during the Extended School Year program offers a stimulating and engaging environment that supports vocabulary expansion, descriptive language, social communication, narrative development, and targeted articulation practice. Not to mention it helps make learning both enjoyable and effective for summer!
Recommended books for this theme:
Fun Resources & Activities for the Beach Theme:
- FREE Color & Play Ocean Bingo
- Interactive Summer Vocabulary Books & Boom Cards
- Feed the Sandcastle Articulation: Boom Cards
- Ocean themed Vocabulary Boom Cards
- Shark Bite Articulation Boom Cards
Beach Sensory Bin Idea: Sandbox with Seashell & Crab Articulation Practice
The beach theme is the perfect sensory bin idea for summer ESY. Simply purchase a tub and some sandbox sand. Print these beach themed articulation cards , laminate them and “bury them” in the sand. Have students take turns pulling them out and saying the words. Every articulation card even has a picture also! Try putting some real shells in the sand too and watch lots of fun happen!
ESY Theme Idea 3: Picnic
Using a picnic theme in ESY is an excellent idea for several reasons. First, this theme creates a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere that can foster a positive learning environment for kids. Students can experience the excitement of planning and preparing for a picnic, setting up a picnic area, and sharing meals together. This theme definitely encourages social interaction, cooperation, and teamwork because students collaborate to organize the picnic together. Additionally, the picnic theme provides ample opportunities for language development for speech and language. Focus on vocabulary related to picnic foods, utensils and outdoor activities.
Recommended books for this theme:
Fun Resources & Activities for the Picnic Theme:
Picnic Sensory Bin Idea: Grass with Picnic Food
For a sensory bin idea for the picnic theme, try this simple idea: Put some green easter grass in your sensory bin or even use green rice (dye it ahead of time.) Then fill the sensory tub with plastic ants and other plastic picnic foods such as hot dogs, chips, fruit and sandwiches. Give students a large spoon or tongs to “find” the picnic items and name what they found.
ESY Theme Idea 4: Gardening
Next, try using a gardening theme during extended school year. The gardening theme provides ample opportunities for vocabulary expansion, as students learn and use gardening-related words such as “seeds,” “plants,” “watering,” and “soil.” They can also explore descriptive language by describing the colors, textures, and sizes of different plants. Gardening also promotes sensory exploration. Additionally, the gardening theme fosters social interaction and communication through activities such as planting together, working as a team, and sharing responsibilities. I always bring in soil for students to touch and see during this theme!
Recommended books for this theme:
Fun Resources & Activities for the Gardening Theme:
- Color & Play Garden Bingo
- Plant Your Garden: Receptive Language Activity
- Interactive Vocabulary Book: Garden Print & Boom Cards
- Articulation Garden: Interactive Sensory Tub Activity
- Hanging with My Gnomies: Multisyllabic Words Game
- Hanging with My Gnomies: Categories Game
Gardening Craft Idea: Flower Chop
I love this Flower Chop Craft because you can do as much or as little with it depending on your student’s needs. It also simply needs to be printed and that’s it. There is no other prep involved with this one. Practice your speech sounds as you build the stem. This easy no-prep craft is ready to use; just add a piece of long construction paper. Color and staple the two pages together if the “craft” is too much for some students. If you have others who need to keep their hands busy then let them cut out each “chop”. Your OT will love you for all the cutting practice! Plus, this craft looks really cute on a bulletin board!
ESY Theme Idea 5: Ice Cream
There’s nothing more motivating than using an ice cream theme in speech therapy during summer time! You will watch student engagement soar. Plus, students can learn and practice vocabulary related to ice cream flavors, toppings and even utensils. They can also foster expressive language development by describing the sensory experiences of eating ice cream, such as taste, texture and temperature. This theme also allows for targeted articulation practice by incorporating ice cream-related words that focus on specific speech sounds. For example, students can practice /s/ sounds when saying “scoop” or /k/ sounds when discussing “cone.”
Recommended books for this theme:
- “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” by Mo Willems
- “Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise” by H.A. Rey
Fun Resources & Activities for the Ice Cream Theme:
Craft Idea: Ice Cream Collage
Materials:
- Construction paper (various colors)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Markers or crayons
Instructions:
- Cut out a large triangle shape from a brown construction paper to create the cone of the ice cream.
- Cut out smaller circles from different colored construction papers to represent the ice cream scoops.
- Provide students with the cone and the circles.
- Encourage them to use markers or crayons to decorate the scoops, creating patterns or designs.
- Help students glue or tape the circles onto the cone, stacking them to create an ice cream cone.
- As they create their collages, prompt students to describe the colors, patterns, and flavors of the ice cream scoops, encouraging expressive language and vocabulary development.
- After completing the craft, encourage students to share their creations, describing their ice cream cone to you and their peers.
Extended School Year for Speech Therapy
Incorporating exciting summer themes into Extended School Year programs for elementary students adds a whole new level of fun and learning to their educational journey. As SLPs, you have the power to create an inclusive and dynamic environment where students can thrive. Don’t forget to sprinkle in some recommended children’s books that align with each theme, because who doesn’t love a good story? Embrace these summer themed ESY ideas and have tons of fun! Also make sure you check out the Learning Through Play: Preschool Summer Handouts for Parents for EVEN MORE summer ideas for speech and language!
What are your favorite themes to use for ESY?
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