Lesson Plan
Session 1 Lesson Plan
Students will learn to navigate their AAC devices to select and sequence vocabulary to answer simple comprehension questions and express key details from a short reading passage.
Building foundational AAC skills during guided reading empowers students to actively participate, boosts confidence, and lays groundwork for independent communication across subjects.
Audience
Elementary School Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Model AAC strategies and scaffold student responses during reading.
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Charge and arrange each student’s AAC Communication Device on their desk
- Print and organize all digital materials:
- Preview reading passage and determine which AAC vocabulary targets yes/no answers and key story words
- Arrange seating so all students can see teacher modeling area
Step 1
Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Display Session 1 Warm-Up Flashcards: Vocabulary Review
- Review 3 core symbols (e.g., “like,” “eat,” “fruit”)
- Prompt each student to locate and activate one symbol on their AAC device
- Provide positive feedback and model clear selection technique
Step 2
Guided Reading
10 minutes
- Introduce Session 1 Reading Passage: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Read the first two pages aloud, pausing after each page
- Model using AAC to answer a yes/no question (“Did the caterpillar eat through one apple?”)
- Invite each student to respond via their device
Step 3
Targeted AAC Modeling Activity
10 minutes
- Use Session 1 Targeted AAC Modeling Cards
- Teacher models selecting vocabulary sequence to describe what the caterpillar ate
- Guide students in pairing with peer to practice selecting two-step phrases (e.g., “eat,” “leaf”)
- Offer errorless prompting and immediate reinforcement
Step 4
Worksheet Practice
15 minutes
- Distribute Session 1 Response Worksheet
- Students use their AAC device to complete fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice prompts about the passage
- Circulate to support device navigation and answer questions
- Encourage independent selections and minimize prompts
Step 5
Cool-Down Reflection
5 minutes
- Hand out Session 1 Reflection Prompt Cards
- Each student uses their AAC device to choose one feeling word about today’s lesson (e.g., “happy,” “proud”)
- Share reflections in a round-robin format
- Praise growth and set goal: “Next time, I will use two whole words.”
Warm Up
Session 1 Warm-Up Flashcards: Core Vocabulary Review
Use these flashcards to help students locate and select key AAC symbols before reading.
Flashcards:
- Symbol: eat
Description: A person bringing food to their mouth
Visual cue: 🍽️
- Symbol: like
Description: Thumbs-up gesture
Visual cue: 👍
- Symbol: hungry
Description: Smiling face with an empty plate
Visual cue: 😋
- Symbol: fruit
Description: A simple apple icon
Visual cue: 🍎
- Symbol: want
Description: Hand reaching out
Visual cue: 🤲
Reading
Session 1 Reading Passage: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
On a warm Sunday morning, a tiny egg lay on a green leaf.
On Monday, the caterpillar hatched. He was very hungry.
He ate through one red apple.
On Tuesday, he ate through two juicy pears.
On Wednesday, he ate through three plums.
On Thursday, he ate through four strawberries.
On Friday, he ate through five oranges.
On Saturday, he ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon. That night he had a stomach ache!
On Sunday, he ate through one nice green leaf. He felt much better.
The caterpillar was no longer little. He was a big, fat caterpillar.
He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself.
He stayed inside for two weeks.
Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon and pushed his way out.
He was a beautiful butterfly!
Activity
Session 1 Targeted AAC Modeling Cards: Two-Step Phrase Sequences
Use these modeling cards to demonstrate how to combine two core symbols on each student’s AAC device. Present one card at a time, model the selection path, then have students practice.
Card 1: Monday’s Snack
Symbols: eat → apple
Visuals: 🍽️ → 🍎
Modeling Steps:
- Locate and select “eat” on your AAC device.
- Then locate and select “apple.”
- Device speaks: “eat apple.”
Card 2: Tuesday’s Snack
Symbols: eat → pear
Visuals: 🍽️ → 🍐
Modeling Steps:
- Select “eat.”
- Select “pear.”
- Device speaks: “eat pear.”
Card 3: Wednesday’s Snack
Symbols: eat → plum
Visuals: 🍽️ → 🍑
Modeling Steps:
- Select “eat.”
- Select “plum.”
- Device speaks: “eat plum.”
Card 4: Thursday’s Snack
Symbols: eat → strawberry
Visuals: 🍽️ → 🍓
Modeling Steps:
- Select “eat.”
- Select “strawberry.”
- Device speaks: “eat strawberry.”
Card 5: Friday’s Snack
Symbols: eat → orange
Visuals: 🍽️ → 🍊
Modeling Steps:
- Select “eat.”
- Select “orange.”
- Device speaks: “eat orange.”
Card 6: Yes/No Comprehension Practice
Prompt: Did he eat an apple?
Symbols: did → he → eat → apple → yes / no
Modeling Steps:
- Select “did.”
- Select “he.”
- Select “eat.”
- Select “apple.”
- Select “yes” or “no.”
Device speaks: “did he eat apple yes.”
Worksheet
Session 1 Response Worksheet
Use your AAC device to complete the following questions based on the story Session 1 Reading Passage: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Activate the appropriate symbols on your device to respond.
- Fill in the blank:On Tuesday, the caterpillar ate through ___ juicy pears.
- Fill in the blank:On Thursday, the caterpillar ate through four ______.
- Multiple Choice:What did the caterpillar eat on Monday?a) plum
b) apple
c) pear(Use your AAC device to select a, b, or c.)
- Yes / No Question:Did the caterpillar have a stomach ache after Saturday’s snacks?
- Two-Symbol Sequence:Using your AAC device, select two symbols to describe what the caterpillar ate on Wednesday.
(Hint: “eat” + ______)
- Yes / No Question:Did the caterpillar feel better after eating the green leaf on Sunday?
- Fill in the blank:After staying inside the cocoon for two weeks, the caterpillar emerged as a beautiful ______.
Instructions:
- Read each question carefully.
- Use your AAC device to activate the symbols in the correct order.
- Check that your device speaks the full phrase before moving on.
Good luck!
Cool Down
Session 1 Reflection Prompt Cards: How I Felt Today
Use these prompt cards to help students select a feeling word on their AAC device and reflect on today’s lesson.
Instructions for Teacher:
- Display one card at a time.
- Model the AAC selection: “I feel ___.”
- Invite each student to use their device to select the matching symbol/word.
- Share reflections in a round-robin format.
- Praise each student’s choice and effort.
Card 1: Happy
Symbol: 😊
Card 2: Proud
Symbol: 😎
Card 3: Excited
Symbol: 🤩
Card 4: Curious
Symbol: 🤔
Card 5: Confident
Symbol: 💪
Reflection Sentence Frame:
“I feel _______ about today’s lesson.”