Submitted by Debra Krispin, Muskegon, Michigan

Idea posted February 2, 2004

Question: I have a new class this year. They are all autistic and very, very low functioning. They don't talk at all and don't move very well. Standing up is a problem. There are eight kids in the class, three aides and the teacher. They all stay to help. They are ages 6-12. Please give me some specific activities, songs, etc.

Answer: I have the exact same classroom - minus one aide! One of the kids is pretty high functioning; he won't sing, but he'll fill in the words that I leave out when I'm singing. Here are some things that have worked well for us:

1. They love instruments and most do pretty well at keeping the beat. I'll play a strong beat on the piano and they take turns playing the beat (I vary it throughout my playing time) on the drum. Or, pick a theme (for example a movie, i.e. "Peter Pan") and play on the piano, "I am a crocodile in the water, watch me swim." Then play a slow beat for the first phrase and play fast for the swim.

2. They do well playing scale songs on barred instruments. Some play the exact rhythm as they go. ("Ebeneezer Sneezer" is the favorite with our group.)

3. Our most magical moments are when we bring out the karaoke machine. Kids who rarely sing will sing all by themselves with the karaoke machine. Try "Twinkle, Twinkle" or some song they know really well.

4. I have keyboards and they love exploring them.

5. The book/CD 85 Engaging Movement Activities by Phyllis Weikart has lots of great ideas that they've been responsive to.

6. They love to manipulate scarves or streamers to music.

7. Buy some cheap garden gloves and sew a dangling ribbon from each finger. Have each student wear a glove and move their hand/glove to music.

8. Play music and have them copy however you move, restricting your movements to tapping, clapping, swinging, etc. to the beat.

9. Mine also like to be sung a music story. They're pretty visual. Our favorite is "I had a cat and the cat pleased me". Others: "This Old Man," "There Was An Old Lady," "Summertime," and "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." There are so many!

10. They like repetition so repeat things from the previous lesson.

My district paid for me to observe some music therapists work with autistic classrooms at a convent. It was so beautiful to watch what they did. I learned a lot from observing them. I had had no prior experience with autistic children before I got this class three years ago. They are one of my very favorite classes.