Category: Single Day Session
Project Overview: Children went sled riding at a local sledding hill.
Rationale: Many children who are blind may not go sled riding on their own due to the fear that they may run into someone or something.
Expanded Core Curriculum Areas Addressed: Recreation and Leisure Skills, Social Interaction Skills, Orientation and Mobility, Self Determination
Description: The children met at the blind association in the morning where they got to explore several different styles of sleds visually and tactually as they waxed the bottoms. Once the sleds were prepared and the children bundled up we headed to a local sled-riding hill. At the hill, the chaperones described the area to the children. They had the opportunity to walk down the hill first to experience just how long and steep it was. Initially each child rode down the hill with a sighted partner. This individual helped orient the child as he/she traveled back up the hill. Eventually the children had the option to go down the hill alone. Sighted chaperones at the top and bottom of the hill monitored the area as needed and indicated when it was safe for the next group of sledders to go down. Hot chocolate and snacks were available in a nearby building so the kids could take a break and warm up as needed.
Result: By experiencing this activity in a safely monitored environment the children gained hands on experience, which is essential for their concept development. This activity also encouraged appropriate social interaction between the children. Upon arrival children were oriented to the sled hill and O&M skills were reinforced throughout the activity.
Sled Riding