Zoo Delivery Teacher Guide Little Book Talkers Session 1 • Dear Zoo
15–20 Mins • 1:1 or Small Group (2–4)
Zoo Delivery Teacher Guide
Mixed Mode: Speech + Signs + AAC
Multi-Modal Communication Matrix (Target Goals)
Spoken / Sound Models
• Knocking: "Knock-knock!"
• Action: "Open!" / "Go in!"
• Rejection: "No-no!" / "Bye-bye"
• Animal sounds: "Roar!", "Hiss!"
Gesture & Sign Cues
• OPEN: Flat hands part outward
• BIG: Curved hands spread wide
• NO / STOP: Head shake or flat palm
• HELP: Closed fist atop open palm
Picture / AAC Core
• Verbs: OPEN, LOOK, GO
• Descriptors: BIG, SMALL, SCARY
• Social/Core: NO, YES, WANT, IN
• Fringe: Animal picture icons
4-Phase Interactive Session Routine
Expectant Pause Rule: Wait 5–8 seconds before assisting
1. Mystery Crate Reveal (3 min) Warm-Up
Present a real shoebox taped with yellow paper and a crate flap. Tap the lid: "Knock, knock! What is IN the box?" Model the sign for OPEN and tap the picture symbol. Pause expectantly. Accept any gaze, tap, sign, or sound.
2. Shared Lift-Reading (7 min) Interactive
Read the board book together. Before lifting each flap, build suspense. Say: "He was too... [PAUSE]!" Model the descriptor (BIG, SCARY, NOISY). Invite the child to push the flap or point to "OPEN" to reveal.
3. Sensory "Send Back!" Bin (6 min) Hands-On
Child pulls a toy animal from crinkle paper. Compare size against the crate opening. If it's too big, prompt rejection: model "NO / SEND BACK". Child drops the animal into the "RETURN TO ZOO" basket with a loud "Bye-bye!"
4. The "Perfect Pet" Choice (4 min) Wrap-Up
Reveal the puppy basket. Offer two choices on the communication mat: "WANT DOG" vs. "ALL DONE". Celebrate any response mode (pointing, eye-shift, sign, vocalization). Allow 1 minute of joyful tactile play.
Least-to-Most Prompt Hierarchy
1
Natural Cue: Hold crate closed; pause and look with open, expectant eyes.
2
Indirect Verbal/Visual: "Look at the box! What should we do?" (Hover hand near board).
3
Direct Multi-Modal Model: Tap "OPEN" on board while signing and saying "Open!"
4
Physical Guide: Gentle hand-under-hand touch to help child lift flap or tap symbol.
Sensory Prep & Low-Verbal Tips
• Tactile Flaps: Tape textured craft felt or foam pads onto book flaps so little fingers can grip and pull easily.
• Aided Language Stimulation: Point to the visual symbols on the kit while speaking—never force a student to speak or press.
• Accept All Approximations: A finger wiggle counts as "OPEN"; a head shake counts as "NO"; an intake of breath counts as excitement!
• Sensory Calming: If animal sounds cause startle, use soft whisper tones and cuddly plush animals.
Success Metric: Child initiates 2+ intentional multi-modal communicative acts per session. Classroom & Speech Therapy Ready
Zoo Delivery Communication Kit Dear Zoo • Table Communication Board
Zoo Express Communication Board
Point • Sign • Vocalize
Accept any intentional response
Visual Sentence Builder:
I WANT
[ Action / Animal ]
or
SEND BACK!
Action "Oh-pen!"
OPEN [Hands part open]
Action "Look!"
LOOK [2 fingers to eye]
Position "In-side!"
IN [Hand into fist]
Reject "No-no!"
NO [Shake head / palm]
Size "So big!"
BIG [Arms spread wide]
Size "Tiny!"
SMALL [Pinch fingers]
Feel "Grrr!"
SCARY [Hands claw face]
Feel "Yay!"
LIKE [Thumb up / smile]
Core "More!"
MORE [Fingertips tap together]
Social "Help!"
HELP [Fist on flat palm]
Noun "Woof!"
PUPPY [Pat thigh / gentle]
Routine "Done!"
ALL DONE [Twist palms down]
Aided Language Tip: Point to the symbol when saying the word aloud. Honor any gaze, touch, sound, or gesture!
Extension Activity Mat & Manipulatives Cut tokens below or use toy animals
Mystery Crates: Keep or Return?
✓
KEEP IT! (Perfect Pet)
Child chooses: "YES, I LIKE"
Place Chosen Pet Here (Puppy / Gentle animal)
Model: "I keep the dog! Woof-woof!"
✕
SEND BACK! (Too Big / Scary)
Child rejects: "NO, TOO BIG"
Return Box / Drop Bin (Elephant, Lion, Snake...)
Model: "Send back! Bye-bye lion!"
Cut-Out Story Props & Matching Tokens Attach Velcro or magnets for hands-on manipulation
🐘 ELEPHANT "Too Big!"
🦒 GIRAFFE "Too Tall!"
🦁 LION "Too Fierce!"
🐍 SNAKE "Too Scary!"
🐵 MONKEY "Too Naughty!"
🐶 PUPPY "Perfect!"
Caterpillar Snack Teacher Guide Little Book Talkers Session 2 • The Very Hungry Caterpillar
15–20 Mins • 1:1 or Small Group (2–4)
Caterpillar Snack Teacher Guide
Mixed Mode: Speech + Signs + AAC
Multi-Modal Communication Matrix (Target Goals)
Spoken / Sound Models
• Feeding: "Munch, munch!" / "Chomp!"
• Requesting: "More!" / "Eat!"
• Sensory state: "Mmm, yum!" / "Ouch!"
• Climax: "Pop!" / "Fly away!"
Gesture & Sign Cues
• EAT: Fingertips tap lips repeatedly
• MORE: Fingertips tap together
• WANT: Open palms pull toward chest
• ALL DONE: Palms open and twist out
Picture / AAC Core
• Core verbs: EAT, WANT, LIKE, STOP
• State words: MORE, FULL, YUMMY, ALL DONE
• Fringe nouns: Apple, Pear, Strawberry, Leaf
• Social carrier: "I WANT [FOOD]"
4-Phase Interactive Session Routine
Wait Time Strategy: Pause 5–8 seconds with mouth open
1. Hungry Puppet Awakening (3 min) Warm-Up
Introduce a green sock puppet or plush caterpillar. Make exaggerated rumbling sounds: "Rumble rumble... my tummy is empty! What do I want to do?" Model the sign for EAT and point to the EAT symbol on the visual board.
2. Shared Interactive Reading (7 min) Book Exploration
Read the board book. As you arrive at each die-cut fruit hole, invite the child to push their finger (or caterpillar puppet) through. Chant rhythmically: "He ate through one apple... BUT he was still..." Pause expectantly for child to sign or point to MORE.
3. "Feed the Caterpillar" Mat (7 min) Sensory Extension
Lay out the feeding mat (or cardboard box with open mouth cutout). Child selects food tokens or plastic fruit. Prompt: "What should he eat?" Child selects via pointing, signing, or vocalizing. Feed the caterpillar with hearty "CHOMP!" sound effects.
4. Full Tummy & Transformation (3 min) Wrap-Up
The caterpillar is full! Pat his belly: "ALL DONE!" Wrap the puppet in a cozy washcloth cocoon. Count "1, 2, 3... POP!" Pull out a silk scarf or butterfly cutout to flutter overhead. Invite child to wave arms.
Multi-Modal Communication Scaffolds
A
Vocal Play: Pair every action with a repetitive sound effect ("Munch-munch!", "Glug-glug!", "Pop!"). Early sounds stimulate verbal motor imitation.
B
Sign Anchoring: Model MORE before turning any page. If child opens palms or wiggles fingers, immediately honor it as MORE!
C
Aided Visual AAC: Touch the visual token as you say the word. Maintain joint attention by holding the token right near your mouth.
Caterpillar Snack Communication Kit Hungry Caterpillar • Table Communication Board
Caterpillar Munch Communication Board
Point • Sign • Vocalize
Multi-modal core requesting
Visual Sentence Builder:
CATERPILLAR
WANTS EAT
[ Food Choice ]
Action "Munch!"
EAT [Fingers tap mouth]
Core "More!"
MORE [Fingertips tap together]
Core "Want!"
WANT [Palms pull to chest]
State "Mmm!"
YUMMY [Rub tummy in circle]
Food "Ap-ple!"
🍎
APPLE [Fist twists at cheek]
Food "Berry!"
🍓
BERRY [Pinch pinky finger]
Food "Or-ange!"
🍊
ORANGE [Squeeze fist at chin]
Food "Green!"
🍃
LEAF [Flutter open hand]
Reject "No more!"
STOP [Edge of hand chops palm]
State "Big belly!"
FULL [Hand sweeps under chin]
Routine "Done!"
ALL DONE [Twist palms down]
Magic "Pop! Fly!"
🦋
BUTTERFLY [Thumbs lock, hands flap]
Prompting Tip: Honor spontaneous eye gaze or vocalizations instantly by moving the requested food token to the caterpillar!
Sensory Activity Mat & Feed Props Use with cut tokens or play food
Feed the Hungry Caterpillar Mat
🐛
"I am SO hungry! Feed me!"
Child points or places token: "EAT MORE!"
Tactile Target
👄
Caterpillar's Mouth (Drop Zone) Place chosen food token here or cut slit to drop inside a box!
Say aloud together: "CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP!"
STILL HUNGRY? Model Sign / Symbol: MORE
TUMMY IS FULL? Model Sign / Symbol: ALL DONE
Cut-Out Food Tokens & Sensory Choice Cards Laminate and attach Velcro dots if desired
🍎 1 APPLE "Crunch!"
🍐 2 PEARS "Sweet!"
🫐 3 PLUMS "Juicy!"
🍓 4 BERRIES "Yum!"
🍊 5 ORANGES "Chomp!"
🍃 NICE LEAF "Feel Better!"
Bear Safari Teacher Guide Little Book Talkers Session 3 • Brown Bear, Brown Bear
15–20 Mins • 1:1 or Small Group (2–4)
Bear Safari Teacher Guide
Mixed Mode: Speech + Signs + AAC
Multi-Modal Communication Matrix (Target Goals)
Spoken / Sound Models
• Joint attention: "I see you!" / "Look!"
• Question prompt: "What is that?"
• Animal sounds: "Baa!", "Quack!", "Neigh!"
• Social ending: "I see ME!" / "I see friends!"
Gesture & Sign Cues
• SEE / LOOK: 2 fingers from eye outward
• WHAT: Hands open, palms up, slight shrug
• TURN PAGE: Flat hand flip over
• ME: Index finger taps own chest gently
Picture / AAC Core
• Core verbs: LOOK, SEE, TURN, LIKE
• Core pronouns: ME, YOU, WHO, WHAT
• Descriptors: BROWN, RED, YELLOW, BLUE
• Fringe nouns: Bear, Bird, Duck, Horse, Frog
4-Phase Interactive Session Routine
Rhythm Rule: Chant in predictable sing-song cadence
1. Tube Binoculars Warm-Up (3 min) Warm-Up
Hand each student a pair of tape-wrapped toilet paper tube binoculars. Look through them at each other: "I see [Student's name]!" Model the sign for LOOK and tap the picture symbol. Practice scanning the room together.
2. Rhythmic Chanted Reading (7 min) Joint Reading
Read the classic pattern with high rhythm and clear pauses: "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? I see a... [LONG EXPECTANT PAUSE]... looking at me!" Let child point to the upcoming color swatch or make animal sound before turning the page.
3. Sensory Safari "I Spy" Bin (7 min) Hands-On
Place toy animals or laminated tokens into green sensory shredded paper. Guide the child to reach in: "Reach, reach! What did you find?" Child pulls animal, touches matching color box on the Safari Mat, and models "I SEE [COLOR]!"
4. Mirror & Peer Reveal (3 min) Wrap-Up
At the end of the story ("looking at us!"), bring out an unbreakable safety mirror. Hold it up to the child: "Who do you see?" Model tapping chest for "ME!" Smile, clap, and celebrate peer connections!
Visual & Sound Scaffolding
1
Sound Approximations: If child cannot say "Duck", celebrate "Quack" or "Duh!". Any vocal play in rhythm is a win.
2
Color Cueing: Pair each animal with its dominant color block on the board so non-verbal children can point to color or animal.
3
Page-Turn Control: Give the child tactile ownership of turning the page using a binder clip or sponge tab on the page edge.
Bear Safari Communication Board Brown Bear • Table Communication Board
Bear Safari Communication Board
Point • Sign • Vocalize
Joint attention & animal modeling
Visual Sentence Builder:
I SEE
[ COLOR ]
[ ANIMAL ]
Action "I see!"
SEE [2 fingers from eyes]
Question "What?"
WHAT [Palms up shrug]
Action "Turn!"
TURN [Hand flip motion]
Social "At me!"
ME [Tap finger to chest]
Brown "Grrr!"
🐻
BEAR [Arms claw chest]
Red "Tweet!"
🐦
RED BIRD [Pinch beak at lips]
Yellow "Quack!"
🦆
YELLOW DUCK [Flat fingers snap beak]
Blue "Neigh!"
🐴
BLUE HORSE [Fingers flap at ears]
Green "Ribbit!"
🐸
GREEN FROG [Two fingers hop chin]
Purple "Meow!"
🐱
PURPLE CAT [Pull whiskers outward]
White "Woof!"
🐶
WHITE DOG [Pat thigh / snap]
Gold "Swish!"
🐟
GOLD FISH [Hand wiggles forward]
Multimodal Prompt: Pair the spoken sound ("Ribbit!") with the animal sign and point to the cell. Praise any turn-taking effort!
Sensory Extension Mat & Props Match animal tokens from the sensory bin
Safari I-Spy Color Matching Mat
1. BROWN 🐻
Place Bear Token "Grrr!"
"I see Brown Bear!"
2. RED 🐦
Place Bird Token "Tweet-tweet!"
"I see Red Bird!"
3. YELLOW 🦆
Place Duck Token "Quack-quack!"
"I see Yellow Duck!"
4. BLUE 🐴
Place Horse Token "Neigh-neigh!"
"I see Blue Horse!"
5. GREEN 🐸
Place Frog Token "Ribbit-hop!"
"I see Green Frog!"
6. PURPLE 🐱
Place Cat Token "Meow-meow!"
"I see Purple Cat!"
Safari Tokens (Hide in Sensory Bin) Child searches bin and matches to colored boxes above
🐻 BROWN "Bear"
🐦 RED "Bird"
🦆 YELLOW "Duck"
🐴 BLUE "Horse"
🐸 GREEN "Frog"
🐱 PURPLE "Cat"
