Sound Builders Routine Guide Lesson 1 Facilitator Guide
Sound Builders Routine
Total: 15 Minutes
Target Sounds
/s/ (Sun), /m/ (Moon), /t/ (Top), /a/ (Apple). Focus on sound, not letter names.
Cycle Structure
5 min: Sound Pop Mat
Key Modality
Hands-on interlocking bricks / snap cubes + tangible tactile placement.
Visual First-Then Board (Set on desk before beginning) Point to cards as you say the verbal script
Step 1 • 5 Min
FIRST: Sound Pop
Touch & place 4 sound bricks
Step 2 • 10 Min
THEN: Tower Blast!
Roll, say sound, stack tower
Direct Instruction Steps & Facilitation Script
1
Set the Contract (1 min): Place visual schedule in front of student. Say: "First we tap 4 sound bricks, then we build the tall tower game!" Set a visual sand or liquid timer.
2
5-Min Sound Pop Mat: Hand student 4 large blocks. Point to 'S' (Sun): "Look, snake says /ssss/. You say /ssss/!" When student attempts or imitates, they slam/snap 1 brick down on the sun circle. Repeat for /m/, /t/, /a/.
3
Immediate Transition to Game (10 min): Slide away the task mat. Say: "Sound Pop is DONE! Look—Tower Blast time!" Student rolls the number die (1-3) and draws a sound card. Student says the sound and snaps that many bricks to their tower. Count total bricks together!
Accommodations for Autism, ADHD & Intellectual Disability
• Least-to-Most Prompting: Wait 5 seconds → Point visually to picture → Model sound ("ssss") → Hand-over-hand block placement if fine motor support is needed.
• ADHD Movement Option: Place building blocks 3 steps away in a "Brick Bin" so student can stand up, take 3 steps, retrieve blocks, and return to build.
Sound Pop Activity Mat FIRST
Sound Pop Mat
Say the sound. Snap 1 brick on the square!
Name:
Date:
MY 4 BRICK TARGET:
1 Sun
→
2 Moon
→
3 Tiger
→
4 Apple
Sound 1
/sssss/
Ss
Sun
Place 1 Brick Here
Sound 2
/mmmm/
Mm
Moon
Place 1 Brick Here
Sound 3
/t/ /t/ /t/
Tt
Tap
Place 1 Brick Here
Sound 4
/aaa/
Aa
Apple
Place 1 Brick Here
4 Bricks Placed!
First step is complete. Time for Tower Blast!
THEN: GAME TIME
Tower Blast Game Mat THEN
Tower Blast Game
Roll the die • Say the sound • Stack the bricks • Count to 10!
Goal: 10 Bricks
1
Roll & Pick Roll die (1, 2, or 3)
2
Sound Out Say card sound loud!
3
Stack & Count Snap onto launchpad!
Sound Card Draw Pile
Place flashcards or draw tokens here. Pick 1 on each turn!
S /ssss/
M /mmmm/
T /t/ /t/
A /aaa/
Teacher cue:
"Say the sound, win the bricks!"
Tower Launchpad & Height Gauge Stack real bricks on base!
Place your real bricks here as you build up!
Tower Base Put brick #1 here
10 BLAST OFF! 🚀
9 Sky High
8 Super Tall
7 Seven bricks
6 Six bricks
5 Halfway mark!
4 Four bricks
3 Three bricks
2 Two bricks
1 Start base
★
TOWER HEIGHT SCORE:
Count every brick before knock down!
Total Bricks Built:
Story Bricks Routine Guide Lesson 2 Facilitator Guide
Story Bricks Routine
Total: 15 Minutes
Early Reading
Picture-supported CVC words: CAT, BUG, BUS, CUP. Point-and-say touch dots.
First-Then Flow
5 min: Picture-Word Strips
Hands-On Game
Roll die, step brick minifigure, collect bricks, build a bridge across the river.
Visual First-Then Contract (Show Student) Clear expectations minimize anxiety and task refusal
Step 1 • 5 Min
FIRST: Touch & Read
Touch 3 dots to read 4 words
Step 2 • 10 Min
THEN: Brick Path Game!
Walk path & build bridge
Shared Reading & Guided Prompts
1
Touch Dot Tracking (First 5 min): Guide the student's index finger to touch each dot under the word. Example for CAT: "Touch /k/ ... touch /a/ ... touch /t/ ... what is it? A cat!" Student places a matching brick on the word dock.
2
Errorless Prompting: If the student hesitates or guesses randomly, immediately point to the visual anchor: "Look at the picture! It's a fuzzy cat. Say 'cat'!" Keep pacing fast and buoyant to preserve ADHD engagement.
3
Transition to Brick Path Game (10 min): Swap mats immediately. Give the student a mini brick toy figure. "Help Bear cross the brick path! Roll the dot die, walk Bear, read the secret picture, and earn 1 brick for your river bridge!"
Sensory & Executive Function Strategies
• High-Interest Character: Allow the student to bring their favorite small Lego minifigure or superhero toy to be the traveler on the game board.
• Structured Counting: Use a die showing only 1, 2, and 3 dots to prevent overwhelming counting and keep turns rapid and frequent.
Picture Word Match Strips FIRST
Word Match Strips
Touch each dot • Blend the sounds • Place 1 brick on the dock!
Name:
Date:
Touch Dot Guide:
1. Start Sound 2. Middle Sound 3. Stop Sound
C A T
●
●
●
BRICK DOCK Snap brick #1
B U G
●
●
●
BRICK DOCK Snap brick #2
B U S
●
●
●
BRICK DOCK Snap brick #3
C U P
●
●
●
BRICK DOCK Snap brick #4
4 Word Strips Read!
All 4 bricks docked. Ready for Brick Path Game!
THEN: GAME TIME
Brick Path Story Mat THEN
Brick Path Story Game
Roll die (1-3) • Step your figure • Say the word • Build the river bridge!
Build 5-Brick Bridge
1 Roll 1, 2, or 3 dots
2 Hop to stone & read word
3 Collect 1 brick for bridge!
Brick Stepping Stones (Hop your toy figure) START HERE →
1
CAT
2
SUN
3
BUG
4
BUS
5
CUP
6
BOX
7
BED
8
STAR
River Crossing Build Site
Snap 5 Real Bricks Here!
1 Brick 1
2 Brick 2
3 Brick 3
4 Brick 4
5 Brick 5
BRIDGE COMPLETE!
Walk your character across the finished brick bridge!
Bricks In Bridge:
5
Build and Label Routine Guide Lesson 3 Facilitator Guide
Build and Label Routine
Total: 15 Minutes
Early Writing
Sensory letter strokes: M, S, T, C. Green start-dot to red stop-dot directionality.
First-Then Flow
5 min: Tactile Tracing Strips
Embedded Math
Count total bricks in each build (1-8), write number, and attach word signpost.
Visual First-Then Contract (Show Student) Clear visual transition reduces handwriting resistance
Step 1 • 5 Min
FIRST: Trace 4 Letters
Follow green start dots: M, S, T, C
Step 2 • 10 Min
THEN: Build & Label!
Build 3 structures & count bricks
Fine-Motor Scaffolding & Facilitator Prompts
1
Sensory Warm-Up (1 min): Have student press their pointer finger on the green start dot. "Start at green! Trace down to red stop!" Allow student to use finger first, then a wide chunky triangular crayon or dry-erase marker.
2
Tactile Alternative: If gripping a writing utensil causes dysregulation or fatigue, provide 1x1 mini blocks or playdough snakes to lay directly along the wide letter tracks. Praise effort immediately!
3
Game Transition (10 min): Hand over the Workshop Mat. Challenge: "Build a TOWER with 4 bricks! Now find the TOWER sign and clip it on!" Student counts the bricks, writes or stamps the number, and attaches the label.
Accommodations for Intellectual Disability, ASD & ADHD
• High-Contrast Visual Boundaries: The wide-track letters have thick outer borders so the child visually perceives the boundary even with motor control variance.
• Meaningful Functional Writing: Labeling tangible builds gives writing direct purpose (claiming their creation), motivating students with autism and ADHD.
Tactile Trace Letter Strips FIRST
Tactile Trace Strips
Start at green dot • Trace to red stop • Write inside the white box!
Name:
Date:
Tracing Rules:
● 1. Start at Green ■ 2. Stop at Red 3. Snap 1 Brick
M /mmmm/
Follow the Arrows
1
M m
■
Your Turn
write or stamp
1 Brick
S /ssss/
Slither Like a Snake
1
S s
■
Your Turn
write or stamp
1 Brick
T /t/ /t/
Top Down & Across
1
T t
■
Your Turn
write or stamp
1 Brick
C /k/ /k/
Curve Round the Corner
1
C c
■
Your Turn
write or stamp
1 Brick
All 4 Letters Traced!
First step done. Time for Builder Signpost Game!
THEN: GAME TIME
Builder Signpost Game Mat THEN
Builder Signpost Game
Build the structure • Count total bricks • Attach the word signpost!
Master Builder
1 Build with bricks
2 Count bricks (1-8)
3 Match & place signpost
Build 1 TOWER
Stack real bricks here!
Bricks
SIGNPOST TOWER
Build 2 BRIDGE
Span across the river!
Bricks
SIGNPOST BRIDGE
Build 3 HOUSE
Build walls & roof!
Bricks
SIGNPOST HOUSE
Word Signpost Bank Cut or match labels to your builds:
TOWER BRIDGE HOUSE WALL
