Simulation Activity
Students with cerebral palsy have trouble using their limbs to perform tasks. The following activity would show students what it is like to get dressed with limited usage of their hands.
Sock Activity
Materials:
-pair of socks for each partnership
-one large button-down shirt
Steps:
1. Split the class up into partnerships.
2. Give the partnerships a pair of thick socks and a large button-down shirt.
3. Instruct the first partner to put the socks on both of their hands.
4. Tell the students with socks on their hands to grab the shirt, put it on, and try buttoning it and unbuttoning it. Explain that this is an activity to be taken seriously and that it is not meant to be silly.
5. Have the other partner repeat the same steps once the first is done.
6. After everyone has tried the activity, have a discussion about what it feels like to get dressed in the morning when you struggle using your hands. Tell the students about how CP can affect more than just the usage of hands and discuss other "every day" tasks that may be difficult to perform if a student has CP.
-pair of socks for each partnership
-one large button-down shirt
Steps:
1. Split the class up into partnerships.
2. Give the partnerships a pair of thick socks and a large button-down shirt.
3. Instruct the first partner to put the socks on both of their hands.
4. Tell the students with socks on their hands to grab the shirt, put it on, and try buttoning it and unbuttoning it. Explain that this is an activity to be taken seriously and that it is not meant to be silly.
5. Have the other partner repeat the same steps once the first is done.
6. After everyone has tried the activity, have a discussion about what it feels like to get dressed in the morning when you struggle using your hands. Tell the students about how CP can affect more than just the usage of hands and discuss other "every day" tasks that may be difficult to perform if a student has CP.