Lesson Plan
Centers Command Central Lesson Plan
Students will rotate through four simplified centers—Counting & Number Matching, Picture–Sentence ELA, Shape & Color Sorting Independent Work, and Basic Life Skills—using clear, concrete visuals and hands-on materials to build foundational skills.
Concrete, hands-on activities with simple visual supports and predictable routines help students with autism at early cognitive levels develop independence, engagement, and confidence.
Audience
High School Students with Autism at Pre-K–2nd Grade Cognitive Levels
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Hands-on rotations with simplified visuals
Materials
- Center Rotation Board Visual, - Counting & Number Matching Visual Schedule, - Picture–Sentence ELA Visual Schedule, - Shape & Color Sorting Visual Schedule, - Basic Life Skills Visual Schedule, - Counting manipulatives (e.g., counters, cubes), - Number cards 1–10 (printed), - Picture cards & simple sentence strips (printed), - Shape and color sorting trays and objects, - Life skills props (e.g., small cups, water pitcher, simple dressing cards), and - Visual Timer
Prep
Prepare Simplified Materials
20 minutes
- Review the updated Centers Command Central Lesson Plan.
- Print and laminate each station’s simplified visual schedule: Counting & Number Matching Visual Schedule, Picture–Sentence ELA Visual Schedule, Shape & Color Sorting Visual Schedule, and Basic Life Skills Visual Schedule.
- Gather and organize manipulatives:
- Math: counters or cubes and number cards 1–10
- ELA: picture cards matched with one-line sentence strips
- Independent Work: sorting trays with colored shapes or objects
- Life Skills: small cups, water pitcher for pouring practice, simple dressing cards
- Set up the Center Rotation Board Visual in view and place a visual timer where all can see.
- Arrange five seating/working spots at each station ensuring easy access to materials.
Step 1
Welcome & Visual Introduction
10 minutes
- Gather students around the Center Rotation Board Visual.
- Point to each station icon and name: Counting, ELA, Sorting, Life Skills.
- Show the visual timer and explain: “We stay until you see red, then we move.”
- Model following one step from the Counting & Number Matching Visual Schedule.
- Use thumbs-up/thumbs-down to check understanding.
Step 2
Hands-On Center Rotations
40 minutes
- Rotate through four 10-minute centers in order: Counting → ELA → Sorting → Life Skills.
- At each station, students follow 3–4 simple steps on that station’s visual schedule:
- Counting: match counters to number cards (1–5), place counters and point to each as you count.
- ELA: choose a picture card, match it to the one-line sentence strip, and point to each word as you read or have the teacher read.
- Sorting: pick colored shapes, place them into the matching color or shape tray.
- Life Skills: practice one step like pouring water into a cup or using dressing cards to match clothing pieces.
- Teacher or aide sits with students to prompt each step and provide modeling as needed.
- Offer a 2-minute and 1-minute visual countdown before each transition using the timer.
Step 3
Review & Positive Closure
10 minutes
- Bring students back to the Center Rotation Board Visual.
- Show which stations were completed; celebrate with stickers or stamps.
- Ask each student to pick their favorite center with a picture choice board.
- Guide students to return materials and clean up each station.
- Praise efforts and remind them of the routine for next time.
Slide Deck
Counting & Number Matching
[Counting & Number Matching Visual Schedule]
- 🃏 Pick a number card (1–5).
- 🔢 Place the same number of counters on the card.
- ✔️ Point and count each counter out loud.
Display this slide at the Counting station. Guide students to match counters to number cards and count out loud.
Picture–Sentence ELA
[Picture–Sentence ELA Visual Schedule]
- 🖼️ Choose a picture card.
- 📄 Find the matching one-line sentence strip.
- 🔊 Point and say each word out loud.
Use this slide at the ELA station. Prompt students to pair each picture with its matching sentence strip and practice saying the words.
Shape & Color Sorting
[Shape & Color Sorting Visual Schedule]
- 🔷 Pick a colored shape or object.
- 📥 Place it into the matching tray.
- 👍 Check that the shape or color matches the tray label.
Introduce this slide at the Sorting station. Model picking an object and placing it in the tray that matches its shape or color.
Basic Life Skills
[Basic Life Skills Visual Schedule]
- 🚰 Gather supplies (cup and pitcher of water).
- 💧 Pour water into your cup slowly.
- 🧼 Clean up and return supplies to the bin.
Use this slide at the Life Skills station. Demonstrate gathering materials, pouring, and cleaning up.
Worksheet
Centers Visual Worksheets (PreK–2 Level)
Note: Each box below should be printed or drawn at least 1.5" × 1.5" so students can place or draw picture cards.
1. Math Center
Paste or draw your number card here (1.5" × 1.5"):
[__________________________]
Write that number: _____
Place that many counters next to your card.
2. Picture–Sentence ELA Center
Paste or draw your picture card here (1.5" × 1.5"):
[__________________________]
Look at the picture. Say or write one word about it:
Complete the sentence: “I see a ______.”
3. Independent Work – Sorting Center
Paste or draw a shape or color card here (1.5" × 1.5"):
[__________________________]
Which tray does it belong to? Circle one:
Shape Color
Write the shape or color word:
4. Life Skills Center
Paste or draw a tool or food card here (1.5" × 1.5"):
[__________________________]
What will you do with this?
Circle one:
Pour Scoop Wipe
Draw or write one step you will do:
Answer Key
Centers Command Answer Key
Math Center
- Compute the product:
48 × 7 = 336Step-by-Step Reasoning:- Break apart 48 × 7 into (40 × 7) + (8 × 7).
- 40 × 7 = 280; 8 × 7 = 56.
- 280 + 56 = 336.
- Solve for x:
2x + 5 = 17 → 2x = 17 − 5 = 12 → x = 12 ÷ 2 = 6
- Word Problem:
A store sells 3 notebooks for $4 each. How much for 5 notebooks?- Cost per notebook = $4. 5 × $4 = $20
ELA Center
Passage:
"Maria walked to the park on a sunny day. She saw children playing and heard birds singing."
- What did Maria see at the park?
Answer: She saw children playing.Thought Process: Locate the verb “saw” and note the direct object in the sentence: “children playing.”
- How do you think Maria felt? Explain why.
Sample Answer: Maria likely felt happy or content because it was a sunny day and she enjoyed watching children play and hearing birds sing.Thought Process: Identify descriptive words (sunny, playing, singing) that suggest a positive mood. Use those clues to infer her feelings.
- Find one adjective in the passage and write it below.
Answer: sunnyThought Process: An adjective describes a noun. “Sunny” describes the day.
Independent Work Center
Task Card 1: Sort the following words into Noun, Verb, or Adjective.
Words: jump, happy, school, run, blue, teacher
- Nouns: school, teacher
Nouns name people, places, or things. - Verbs: jump, run
Verbs show actions. - Adjectives: happy, blue
Adjectives describe nouns.
Task Card 2: Copy the sentence below in your neatest handwriting.
"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
- Teacher can mark this as correct if the sentence is copied accurately with appropriate spacing and letter formation.
Life Skills Center
Recipe: Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Sample Filled Blanks:
- 2 slices of wheat bread
- 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon of strawberry jelly
Steps & Sample Completion:
- Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread.
Example: "Spread peanut butter evenly to the edges of the bread." - Spread jelly on the other slice.
Example: "Spread jelly smoothly over the center of the slice." - Put the two slices together, peanut butter side to jelly side.
Example: "Place the peanut butter slice on top of the jelly slice so fillings touch." - Cut the sandwich in half.
Example: "Cut down the middle to make two triangles."
Checks:
[ ] Step 1 complete [ ] Step 2 complete [ ] Step 3 complete [ ] Step 4 complete
Teacher Note: Accept any reasonable bread or jelly type. Look for accurate sequence and safe handling of utensils.
Warm Up
Rotation Ready Warm-Up
Objective: Match each icon to its center name.
🧮 __________
📖 __________
📂 __________
🍽️ __________
When you’re finished, give a big thumbs-up!
Cool Down
Center Reflection Cool-Down
Use pictures or one-word answers below.
- ⭐ My Favorite Station
Which station did you like the most? Circle one:
🧮 Math 📖 ELA 📂 Sorting 🍽️ Life Skills
2. 👍 How I Felt
Choose a face that shows how you felt using visuals:
😊 😐 😞
3. 📚 One New Thing
Write one word about what you learned:
4. 💡 Next Time
Draw or write one idea to make centers better: