Activity 4-2:
The Planning Web

Purpose: In this activity, participants will use The Planning Web to design an activity for a group of children.

Outcomes:
Participants plan activities that reflect children's different backgrounds, needs, interests, skills, and abilities.

Participants individualize activities so that children with different skill levels and abilities can participate and experience success.

Materials:
Paper, pens
Handout 17: Introduction to The Planning Web
Handout 18: The Planning Web

1. Explain to participants that this activity will focus on using The Planning Web to plan activities that reflect individual backgrounds, skills, abilities, interests, and needs of a small group of children.

2. Distribute and review the instructions to Handout 17: Introduction to the Planning Web. Have participants complete the web for the sample activity (making collages).

3. Ask participants to share their completed webs. Have them explain why the materials and strategies they proposed for each child respond to information in the handout about the child's background, skills, needs, and interests. Bring out the following points in your discussion:

· A well-planned activity can be enjoyed by children with different backgrounds, skills, needs, abilities, and interests.

· Appropriate activities allow children of all abilities to make decisions about how to use materials, props, and equipment and to choose how they want to express their creativity.

· Appropriate activities usually encourage development across several domains. For example, in collage-making, children can express their creativity and use physical (small muscle), cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

4. Distribute and explain the format in Handout 18: The Planning Web. Ask participants to use it to plan an activity for several children, including a child with a disability. Explain that after implementing the activity, you will meet again to discuss what happened.

5. Meet with participants to discuss their experiences using The Planning Web as a planning tool. Next, lead participants through the process of evaluating and following up on their activities. Ask these questions:

Were your goals for the children who participated in this activity met?
What skills did children develop and use?
How did children at different skill levels participate?
How did the activity allow children to make choices? Use creativity? 
How did the activity encourage development across more than one domain?
What adaptations did you make to encourage participation of a child with a disability?
What materials did the children use?
How did adults help children get involved?
Which part of the activity went well?
What, if anything, would you change if you repeated the activity?
How could parents follow up on this activity at home?
How could you follow up on the activity at the center or during a group socialization session?

6. Encourage participants to discuss their plans with colleagues and the children's parents and to implement their plans, if appropriate. Offer to provide additional copies of The Planning Web so that participants can continue using it in their programs.