Your student with autism will love making a Christmas placemat with their name and picture on it! First, take out an 8 X 10 or 10 X 13 piece of cardstock. Next, use a ruler and pencil to draw vertical lines one inch apart. Then, place painters tape on the lines. Then, you will draw horizontal lines one inch apart. Place the painters tape on those lines, and you will get a checkered pattern. See the picture below.

Next, have your student paint every other square red and every other square green. Let it dry and have your student pull off the painter’s tape. Then, make two banners using microsoft word. Type out the student’s name on the first banner and Merry Christmas on the second banner. Next, have your student glue a picture of themselves in the middle of the placemat. Finally, laminate the placemat, and use it for snack time.

Now that the placemat is complete, it is time for your student to practice expressive language. Have your student describe in detail how they made the Christmas placemat. Here is an example: “I made a Christmas placemat. First, I painted every other square red and then I painted every other square green. Next, I let my placemat dry. Then I decorated it with my name and a sign that says Merry Christmas. Finally, I glued my picture in the middle of the placemat. I will use it for snack time.”