Snack + Story in 7 Easy Steps for Speech Therapy

Snacks have this magical power, don't they? It's like they speak directly to a child's soul. Just ask Landon—he's always got snack time on the brain. And who can blame him? What kid doesn't love their snacks? But you know what's even better than a tasty snack? Pairing it up with an amazing story. Now, use it to create an engaging speech therapy session. Today, I want to share with you how to craft a snack + story experience in 7 easy steps! It's a wonderful and fun way to captivate our students while effectively targeting their goals.

Important to remember that this is a general guideline for your session.

You will need to make changes according to your specific group of students.

Here's a breakdown of how you can structure a 30-minute speech and language session using a snack and story:

The Goal for Speech Therapy Session:

Target language skills through storytelling and a snack activity.

Adding snacks to the mix adds a sensory dimension, making the experience both enjoyable and memorable. This approach encourages social interaction, vocabulary building, and turn-taking in a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, the familiar setting of snack time helps students feel comfortable practicing their language skills with confidence.

Materials for Snack + Story:  

1. Picture book or story relevant to the chosen theme

2. Ingredients for the snack activity (simple & preferably tied to the story's theme)

3. Visual aids (picture cards, sequencing cards, etc.)

4. Discussion prompts related to the story and snack.

1. Introduction: 

• Introduce the session's theme and objectives. (Remember to make it age-appropriate). Example of this could be: "Today we will learn how to express feelings, share ideas, and solve problems together, all while enjoying a fun story and some yummy snacks."
• Briefly explain that you'll be reading a story and then doing a fun snack activity related to the story. "After our story time, get ready for a fun snack activity that ties in with the story we've just read. We'll use our creativity and imagination to bring the story to life through our snacks."

2. Storytime: 

• Read the selected story aloud to the students. Choose a story with engaging visuals and a clear storyline. You can opt for a themed story like "How to Catch a Dragon" or "How to Catch a Leprechaun," which aligns with our learning objectives and adds an element of excitement. If you're looking for an extended learning activity, check out my Adapted Book Piece Sets for both of these books. You can find them here! Alternatively, with St. Patrick's Day around the corner, explore a tale related to that holiday, such as "Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato." Whether it's a themed narrative or a holiday adventure, your student's will love an engaging story. 

• Encourage active listening by asking occasional questions about the story as you read. Pause for brief discussions. For example, "What color is the main character's hat?" "What do you think will happen next in the story?" Pausing and asking questions will also enhance active engagement and comprehension among kids, allowing them to process information, formulate responses, and practice language skills in a supportive environment.

4. Snack Preparation: 

• Introduce the snack activity, explaining how it connects to the story's theme.

• Briefly review the ingredients and steps involved in preparing the snack. Keep the recipe simple and safe, focusing on easy-to-follow directions. This will help minimize the risk of accidents and allow for a greater focus on language development and following instructions. If you need ideas for recipes, I have a VISUAL RECIPE BUNDLE that includes 48 SEASONAL VISUAL RECIPES (4 for each month), and vocabulary for each recipe: You will easily be able to teach and review ingredients, tools, and actions with the provided vocabulary cards. Also includes comprehension questions for each recipe, this will help you with step 3! Click here to learn more!

5. Language Activities during Snack Preparation:

As you guide the students through the snack preparation, use this time to target specific language skills:

1. Vocabulary Building: Introduce new cooking-related vocabulary. Have the students repeat the words and use them in sentences. You can use the vocabulary from Visual Recipe Cards to help with guidance on directing students through the recipe.

2. Sequencing: Discuss the steps involved in the snack preparation. Use visual aids to support understanding. The visual representation helps preschoolers grasp the order of tasks and reinforces their understanding of sequence-related language like "first," "next," and "last." It also enhances their ability to follow multi-step directions—a crucial skill for both cooking and language development.

3. Descriptive Language: Encourage the students to describe the ingredients using adjectives (e.g., "crunchy apples," "juicy grapes").

4. Asking Questions: Prompt the students to ask questions about the snack or recipe (e.g., "What's this ingredient?" "Why do we need to mix it?").

My visual recipe cards include comprehension questions and vocabulary. They are a must-have when it comes to language activities and Snack + Stories in Speech Therapy. These cards not only guide students through the snack-making process but also reinforce comprehension skills, expand vocabulary, and promote language development. Plus, they add an interactive element to the activity, keeping students engaged and excited about learning while they cook up delicious treats.

6. Snack Enjoyment and Discussion:

• Allow the students to enjoy the prepared snack. As they eat, initiate conversation related to the story and snack:
• Story Connection: Ask how the snack relates to the story. For example, if the story featured a character baking, ask if they remember a similar scene in the story.
• Opinions and Preferences: Encourage the students to share their opinions about the snack's taste, texture, and appearance.
• Story Retelling: Invite the students to retell the story in their own words, using the visual aids as prompts. Retelling the story helps kids remember important parts, like what happened and who was involved, which is great for their memory and understanding. It also helps them learn to put their ideas in order and talk about them clearly, which makes them better at speaking and sharing their thoughts. 

7. Wrap-Up Snack + Story

• Summarize the session by briefly revisiting the story's key points and the snack activity.
• Ask the children what they enjoyed most about the session or what they learned. Asking the children what they enjoyed most is important because it helps them reflect on their learning experiences and gives them a chance to express their preferences and interests. This feedback can inform future sessions, ensuring that they remain engaging and enjoyable for the children.

• Provide a fun and positive closing, expressing excitement for the next session.

Snack + Story Speech Therapy 

Don't forget, being flexible is key during any session. Kids' interest levels and needs can change, so it's important to adjust activities and pace accordingly to make sure everyone has a great time.

Mixing storytelling with a snack activity creates a fun way to learn language skills together. Snack and story activities are important and useful for speech therapy is that they provide a natural and relaxed setting for communication practice. Enjoying a snack together creates a comfortable atmosphere where children feel more open to expressing themselves, practicing speech sounds, and engaging in conversation.

And hey, if you ever need some fresh ideas or inspiration, be sure to check out my Instagram! I post new snack and story combos every Sunday.

Also, I include what you can target with your students as far as vocabulary, core words, basic concepts and so much more!! Stay tuned for some tasty treats and exciting stories! 

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