The children at Stepping Stones School have been enjoying a variety of winter-themed activities and seasonal celebrations. Some lessons included:

• Winter sensory activities, such as using tools to spread shaving cream on plastic ice cubes to create towers and pyramids, and playing with fake snow and plastic penguins
• Learning about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including his messages of kindness and peace. The children created peace signs using multicultural paper strips.
• Celebrating the Lunar New Year with paper chain snakes, a dragon banner, dancing with paddle drums, Chinese specialties for lunch and snacks, and everyone wearing red for good luck
• “Ice Skating” using laminated paper in the classroom and sliding around in their socks
• An “It’s Just a Phase” unit, where children learned about solids, liquids, and gases by making ice pops, painting with ice, preparing root beer floats, melting crayons, and watching gas from vinegar and baking soda blow up a balloon

The Arc of Essex County’s Stepping Stones School is a Department of Education-approved private school for students with disabilities. Located in Fairfield, NJ, the school is designed to meet the developmental and educational needs of children with cognitive impairments such as Down syndrome and other students with similar educational and developmental needs. For more information, or to request a virtual tour and assistance with an out-of-district placement, contact Robin Moses, Director of Early Childhood and Education at (862) 210-8781 or [email protected].