Week

1 who,
make

Monday

Character Explore

Language:

Make Own Cover Page

Word Walk

Art: Sprinkle Art

Tuesday

Character Explore

Language:

Grab Bag

Picture Walk

OT/PT:

Make a Train

Wednesday

Setting Explore

Language:

Shared Book Reading

Bowling for Vocab

Build-a-Scene

Science: Dancing Sprinkles

Thursday

Setting Explore

Language:

Cooking: Fairy Bread

Friday

Core Word Explore

Language:

Act the Book Out

BINGO

Music: Who Stole the Cookie?

BAM-WOW!

Book-A-Month, Word-Of-the-Week

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Video Reading

Abridged Book

Visual Scene Display Book

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The Lesson Script

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Month at a Glance

The Holiday Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher

Welcome to our holiday-themed unit! Over the next month, we will be reading The Holiday Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher by Robert Kraus. This sweet story is perfect for exploring vocabulary and practicing our language skills.

Each week, we will focus on one-two high-frequency vocabulary words while also learning other words related to the story. The activities are designed to be fun and engaging, providing many opportunities for learners to hear, see, and use these new words. Remember to model language on the learner's AAC system without expectation. Let's have fun!

Week

2 take, sad

Core Word Explore

Language:

Core Word Explore

Word Walk

Art: Happy and Sad Face Puppets

Core Word Explore

Language:

Build-a-Scene

Manipulable Book

Silly Scenes

Describe-A-Scene

OT/PT: Relay Race

Core Word Explore

Language:

Predictable Chart Writing

Book Reading

Matching

Science: Disappearing Sprinkles

Core Word Explore

Language:

Silly Scenes

This-or-That

Reading Comp.

Cooking: Make Big/Little Cookies

Core Word Explore

Language:

Re-write Story

Bowling for Vocab

Movement: Happy/Sad Dance

Week

3 all, oh no!

Core Word Explore

Language:

Core Word Explore

Word Walk

Art: "All the Colors" Rainbow

Core Word Explore

Language:

Scavenger Hunt

Matching

OT/PT: Parachute Play

Core Word Explore

Language:

Label-a-Scene

Book Reading

Science: Sorting Sprinkles

Core Word Explore

Language:

Book Reading

This-or-That

Cooking: Rice Crispy Treats

Core Word Explore

Language:

Act out the Book

BINGO

Movement: Obstacle Course

Week

4 share, happy

Core Word Explore

Language:

Word Walk

Core Work Explore

Art: Make a "share" Card

Core Word Explore

Language:

MadLibs

Silly Scenes

OT/PT:

Ball Toss

Core Word Explore

Language:

Reading Comp.

Re-write Story

Science:

Mixing Colors

Core Word Explore

Language:

Act out the Book

Scavenger Hunt

Cooking: Decorate Cookies

Core Word Explore

Language:

Party!

BINGO

Movement: Dance Party

LINK TO SCRIPT >>

Lesson Script

This curriculum script is designed to support learners using AAC by pre-teaching and reinforcing vocabulary from the book. The activities follow a consistent template derived from our "Month at a Glance" visual.

The goal is to move from receptive understanding (listening, seeing) to expressive use (saying, pointing) in structured, fun activities. Remember to model the target words on the learner's AAC system frequently, without expecting them to respond immediately.

Week 1: Focus on "Who" and "Make

Focus: Introduce all vocabulary (Tiers A, B, C) with a special focus on the core words "who" and "make."

Daily Check-in: "Welcome! This month we are reading a story about a little guy who loves sprinkles. He takes all of them! We are going to talk about cookies and feelings like sad and happy."
Joke of the Day: Who steals the soap for the bath? (Answer: The Robber Ducky!)
Chat Topic: Who helps you make cookies at home?
Activities:
- Character Explore (Make Your Own Cover Page): Show the cover of the book. Talk about the "Snitcher." Have the student draw or color their own version of the cover. Model: "Who is that? That is the Snitcher!"
- Word Walk: Introduce the Tier B (sprinkles, cookie) and Tier C (find, oh no!) flashcards. Walk through the words before seeing them in the book.
Cooking (Dough): Make simple play-dough or cookie dough. Focus on the word make. "We make the dough. Who is mixing? You are!"
Specials:
- Art: Make "Sprinkle Art." Glue real sprinkles or bits of colored paper onto a paper cookie.

Daily Check-in: "Yesterday we met the Snitcher. Who is he? He is a little guy who likes sprinkles. Today let's see what items we can find."
Joke of the Day: Who is Santa's favorite singer? (Answer: Elf-is Presley!)
Chat Topic: What is your favorite kind of cookie?
Activities:
- Receptive Language (Grab Bag): Place objects from the story (plastic cookie, jar of sprinkles, a little bird toy) in a bag. Pull them out one by one. "What did we find? Oh no! An empty jar!"
- Vocabulary (Picture Walk): Look through the book pages without reading the words. Point to the Snitcher. Model: "Who is that? He looks happy. The people look sad."
- Core Word Explore ('Make'): Use the AAC device to talk about things we make. "We make mess." "We make food."
Specials:
- Gross Motor: Make a train. Walk in a line like the villagers hunting for the Snitcher.

Daily Check-in: "We are getting to know the book. The Snitcher wants to take the sprinkles. The villagers want to make cookies. Who will win?"
Joke of the Day: Who eats the most at Thanksgiving? (Answer: The turkey, because he is always stuffed!)
Chat Topic: Do you like sprinkles? Yes or No?
Activities:
- Shared Book Reading: Read the story. Use the CAR strategy (Comment, Ask, Respond). Pause when the Snitcher appears. Ask, "Who is that?"
- Language (Bowling for Vocab): Tape vocabulary pictures to bowling pins. Roll a ball. "Oh no! You hit the cookie! You hit the sad face!".
Specials:
- Science: "Dancing Sprinkles." Put sprinkles in clear soda. Watch them move. Who is moving? The sprinkles!

Daily Check-in: "We found out who took the sprinkles. It was the Snitcher! He wanted to make his own fun. Today let's look for words."
Joke of the Day: Who is famous for running away? (Answer: The Gingerbread Man!)
Chat Topic: Who is your best friend?
Activities:
- Core Word Explore (Scavenger Hunt): Hide sprinkle jars (images or real) around the room. Go find them. "Who found the big jar? You did!"
- Vocabulary (Memory): Play Memory with Tier B words (sad, happy, big, little). "You found a match! Two happy faces."
- Shared Reading: Read the book again. Encourage the student to fill in the repeated line (if applicable) or point to "Oh no!"
Specials:
- Cooking: Make "Fairy Bread." Bread, butter, and sprinkles. Who wants to eat?

Daily Check-in: "We finished week 1! We know who the Snitcher is. We know the people want to make cookies. But... oh no! The sprinkles are gone!"
Joke of the Day: Who says "Ho Ho Ho"? (Answer: Santa!)
Chat Topic: What are you going to make this weekend?
Activities:
- Synthesis (Act the Book): Use a puppet or mask for the Snitcher. Have the student ask, "Who are you?" The puppet says, "I take sprinkles!"
- Vocabulary Game (Bingo): Play Bingo with the character faces and cookie types.
- Reflection: Look at the cover page you made on Monday. compare it to the book.
Specials:
- Music: Listen to "Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?" Change lyrics to "Who took the sprinkles?"

Week 2: Focus on "Take" and "Sad"

Focus: Review all vocabulary with a special focus on the words "take" and "sad"

Daily Check-in: "Oh no! The sprinkles are gone. The Snitcher did take them. Everyone is sad. Let's talk about taking things."
Joke of the Day: Why did the boy take a ladder to school? (Answer: He wanted to go to high school!)
Chat Topic: Is it nice to take things without asking?
Activities:
- Core Word Explore ('Take'): Practice "taking." Have a pile of toys. "I take the block. You take the car." Model "Take" on the device.
- Vocabulary (Word Walk Review): Review sad vs. happy. Show faces. "The Snitcher takes sprinkles. The kids are sad."
- Book Reading: Read the middle of the book where the theft happens. "Look, he will take them!"
Specials:
- Art: Draw sad faces and happy faces. Glue them on popsicle sticks.

Daily Check-in: "Yesterday we saw the Snitcher take the sprinkles. It was a big problem. The little boys and girls were sad."
Joke of the Day: What did the ocean say to the shore? (Answer: Nothing, it just waved!)
Chat Topic: What makes you feel sad?
Activities:
- Language (Build-a-Scene): Use a background of a kitchen. It has dough but no sprinkles. Have the student "fix" it. "Put sprinkles on. Do not take them off!"
- Toolkit/Manipulable Book: Use velcro pieces on a laminated book page. Let the student physically take the sprinkle icon off the page. "Oh no! You take sprinkles!"
- Matching: Match big cookies to big cookies and little cookies to little cookies.
Specials:
- Gross Motor: "Relay Race." Run to the bowl, take a ball (sprinkle), and run back.

Daily Check-in: "We are talking about taking. The Snitcher did take the sprinkles while everyone was sleeping. That is not good sharing."
Joke of the Day: Why did the cookie go to the doctor? (Answer: He felt crumby!)
Chat Topic: If someone takes your toy, what do you say? (Oh no!)
Activities:
- Writing (Predictable Chart): "I like to take _____." (e.g., naps, cookies, toys).
- Shared Reading: Read focusing on the emotions. Point to the villagers. "Are they happy? No, they are sad."
- Who/What/Where: Ask questions. "Who is sad? The kids. What is missing? Sprinkles.".
Specials:
- Science: "Disappearing Sprinkles." Put sprinkles in water. Watch the color take over the water.

Daily Check-in: "The moms tried to make cookies without sprinkles. They were sad cookies. Today let's find big and little things."
Joke of the Day: What is a monster's favorite bean? (Answer: A human bean!)
Chat Topic: Do you like big cookies or little cookies?
Activities:
- Vocabulary (This or That): Show two pictures. "Do you want the big cookie or the little cookie?" "Is the Snitcher happy or sad?"
- Silly Scenes: Put sprinkles on silly things in a picture (e.g., on a shoe, on a dog). "That is silly! Take it off!"
- Core Word Explore: Play "Gimme." Ask the student to "take" specific items from a field of 3.
Specials:
- Cooking: Make different sized cookies. Big ones and little ones.

Daily Check-in: "Week 2 is done. We saw the Snitcher take everything. But don't be sad, next week we fix it!"
Joke of the Day: What do you call a bear with no teeth? (Answer: A gummy bear!)
Chat Topic: What makes you feel happy?
Activities:
- Synthesis (Re-write the story): Put story sequence cards in order. "First he takes sprinkles. Then kids are sad."
- Vocabulary Game (Bowling): Bowling for feelings. Knock down the sad pin.
- Movement Break: "If you're happy and you know it."
Specials:
- Music: Play slow, sad music. Then play fast, happy music. Move to the beat.

Week 3: Focus on "All"

Focus: Review all vocabulary with a special focus on the core word ALL.

Daily Check-in: "The Snitcher has all the sprinkles. Every single one! The jars are empty. Oh no!"
Joke of the Day: Why did the student eat his homework? (Answer: The teacher said it was a piece of cake!)
Chat Topic: Do you want all the cookies?
Activities:
- Core Word Explore ('All'): Use a clear jar and blocks. Put them all in. Pour them all out. "They are all gone!".
- Vocabulary (Word Walk): Focus on Find and Oh no!. "We cannot find the sprinkles. Oh no!"
- Book Reading: Read the part where the Snitcher realizes the town is sad.
Specials:
- Art: "All the Colors." Use all the crayons to color a big rainbow.

Daily Check-in: "The Snitcher flies over the town. He sees all the sad faces. He starts to feel bad."
Joke of the Day: What goes up but never comes down? (Answer: Your age!)
Chat Topic: If you have all the toys, is that fair?
Activities:
- Language (Scavenger Hunt): Hide "empty" jars around the room. Find them. "Is there anything inside? No, all gone."
- Matching: Match quantity. One cookie vs. All the cookies (a pile).
- Silly Scenes: A picture of a house made all of cookies. "Look at all those cookies!"
Specials:
- Gross Motor: Parachute play. Put balls on the parachute. Shake them all off!

Daily Check-in: "We are halfway through the month! The Snitcher has all the sprinkles, but he is not happy. He misses the happy town."
Joke of the Day: What falls in winter but never gets hurt? (Answer: Snow!)
Chat Topic: What do you like to find outside?
Activities:
- Writing (Label-a-Scene): Look at a picture of the Snitcher's house. It is full of bottles. Label them: "All sprinkles." "Big jar."
- Shared Reading: Pause at "Oh no!" moments. Encourage the student to use the device to say "Oh no!"
- Bubbles: Blow bubbles. Pop them all!.
Specials:
- Science: Sorting. Sort a mix of sprinkles (or beads) by color. Put all red here. All blue there.

Daily Check-in: "The Snitcher decides he doesn't want to keep all the sprinkles. He wants to see the kids happy again."
Joke of the Day: What has hands but cannot clap? (Answer: A clock!)
Chat Topic: Tell me about a time you lost something. Did you find it?
Activities:
- Vocabulary (Read the Book): Focus on the word Find. "The Snitcher flies to find the town.".
- Would You Rather: "Would you rather have all the cookies or all the broccoli?".
- Core Word Explore: "All done." Practice finishing tasks and saying "All done."
Specials:
- Cooking: Rice Crispy Treats. Mix the cereal. Ensure all pieces are sticky!

Daily Check-in: "We learned that having all the stuff doesn't always make you happy. The Snitcher is ready to change."
Joke of the Day: Why did the banana go to the doctor? (Answer: He wasn't peeling well!)
Chat Topic: What are you excited to do this weekend?
Activities:
- Synthesis (Act the Book): Pretend to carry a heavy bag. "It has all the sprinkles! It is big!".
- Bingo: Use the vocab cards. Cover all the spots to win.
- Music: Shake instruments. Shake them all together. "Make it loud!".
Specials:
- Movement: Obstacle course. Go through all the obstacles.

Week 4: Focus on "SHARE"

Focus: Review all vocabulary with a special focus on the word SHARE.

Daily Check-in: "It is our last week! The Snitcher brings the sprinkles back. He decides to share. Everyone is happy!"
Joke of the Day: Why are fish so smart? (Answer: They live in schools!)
Chat Topic: Do you like to share your toys?
Activities:
- Core Word Explore ('Share'): Practice sharing. "I have a cookie. I break it. I share with you." Model "Share".
- Vocabulary (Word Walk): Focus on Learn and Happy. "He learns a lesson. Now he is happy."
- Book Reading: Read the ending. "Look! It is raining sprinkles! He did share!"
Specials:
- Art: Make a "Share" card. Draw a picture to give to a friend.

Daily Check-in: "The Snitcher learned that sharing makes friends. The town is happy. The cookies look good!"
Joke of the Day: What kind of key opens a banana? (Answer: A monkey!)
Chat Topic: What did you learn in school today?
Activities:
- Mad Libs: Create a silly story. "The [Animal] took the [Food]. He was [Feeling].".
- Silly Scenes: Put sprinkles on the villagers' heads. "They are happy!".
- Memory: Find the matches of people sharing items.
Specials:
- Gross Motor: Ball toss. Throw the ball to a friend. "Share the ball."

Daily Check-in: "We are almost done with our book. The Snitcher is not a snitcher anymore. He is a Sharer!"
Joke of the Day: What has legs but cannot walk? (Answer: A chair!)
Chat Topic: Who do you share your lunch with?
Activities:
- Reading Comprehension: Ask questions. "Who took the sprinkles?" "Did he share at the end?" "Is everyone happy?".
- Re-write the Story: What if he kept them? Would he be happy? No. Write a sentence: "He likes to share.".
- Matching: Match the problem (Sad faces) to the solution (Sharing/Happy faces).
Specials:
- Science: "Mixing Colors." Share the blue water with the red water. What does it make? Purple!

Daily Check-in: "Tomorrow we have a party. Today let's practice telling the story. The Snitcher takes, then he learns, then he shares."
Joke of the Day: What did the left eye say to the right eye? (Answer: Between us, something smells!)
Chat Topic: What is the best thing to share? (Toys, food, hugs?)
Activities:
- Act the Book: Assign roles. Snitcher, Villagers. Use props (empty jars, full jars). Act out the sharing scene42.
- Vocabulary (Scavenger Hunt): Find the hidden happy faces around the room.
- Core Word Explore: "My turn, your turn." Taking turns is sharing.
Specials:
- Cooking: Decorate cookies! Use sprinkles. Share the sprinkles with the group.

Daily Check-in: "We finished The Holiday Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher! You learned: Who, All, Take, Make, Big, Little, Sprinkles, Cookie, Sad, Happy, Find, Oh no, Learn, Share!"
Joke of the Day: What do elves learn in school? (Answer: The Elf-abet!)
Chat Topic: What was your favorite part of the book?
Activities:
- Party: Eat the cookies we decorated yesterday. Talk about the words while eating. "Big cookie." "Happy tummy."
- Vocabulary (Bingo): Final Bingo game with all words.
- Make your Playlist: Pick happy songs to dance to.
Specials:
- Movement: Free dance! Move your body. Be happy!

This video is a read-aloud of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! adapted for younger learners and those who benefit from shorter, engaging storytelling. Hillary reads the playful, repetitive text while adding comments, prompts, and questions to keep you engaged—pointing out illustrations, connecting items to real-life objects, and encouraging participation. The story builds as the old lady swallows more and more autumn items until a big sneeze turns them into a scarecrow!
The video is an interactive read-aloud of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro. Hillary adapts, using shorter phrasing, frequent comments, and questions to keep the audience engaged. Throughout the reading, Hillary encourages learners to notice rhyming words, think about vocabulary (like “prop up” and “hay”), and make connections to real-life experiences (such as animals on a farm or wearing pants). Learners are encouraged to think about ways to describe the story and/or their thoughts, use icons or AAC, and more. Hillary ends with a reflection—asking learners if they thought the story was funny or enjoyable.
The video explains how to create and use an adapted visual scene display (VSD) version of the book to support engagement and language learning. The book is designed like a lite-tech visual scene display, where key vocabulary (like the dog, leaves, shirt, or pumpkin in this nook) are made removable with Velcro. Students can respond to the story by pointing, selecting, or handing over these items, and AAC users can pair responses with their devices. Hillary demonstrates how these adaptations encourage participation, receptive language, and expressive communication. The video also highlights practical tips for construction, such as printing duplicate book pages, choosing salient features, and adjusting object size or backing for fine motor accessibility. Overall, the VSD book provides multiple entry points for learners to interact with the story meaningfully.

Week

1

who, make

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

BAM-WOW!

Book-A-Month, Word-Of-the-Week

Video Reading

Abridged Book

Visual Scene Display Book

Icons

The Lesson Script

Other Related Material

Month at a Glance

The Holiday Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher

Week

2

take, sad

Week

3

all, oh no!

Week

4

share, happy

Lesson Script

Week 1: Focus on "Who" and "Make

Week 2: Focus on "Take" and "Sad"

Week 3: Focus on "All"

Week 4: Focus on "SHARE"

who,
make