The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students combined an educational Community Based Instruction (CBI) with honoring their mothers for Mother’s Day. In preparation for making a gift for Mother’s Day, facilitators Mrs. Karla Lama and Mrs. Courtney Henry, discussed the importance of empathy, giving to others and selflessness with the class.
The students were each provided a budget of $15.00 and made a list of 4 items that they thought their mother would like. Some of the items the students wrote down were: chips, pretzels, soda, candy, chocolate, candles, lotion and nail polish. In addition to those items, students added paint, paintbrushes, and cards to their list. The next step was to go to Walmart to purchase the items they needed.
Students had to locate their items at Walmart and ask for assistance from store employees when needed. They were allowed to buy only the items on their shopping list. This was a great exercise in paying attention to the preferences of others while maintaining self-restraint from making “impulse buys.”.
The students then used the self-checkout and a gift card to purchase their items. Students took turns scanning their items, determining if their items were under budget, bagging their items, and paying with a card.
Once they were back in the classroom, students painted and put together wooden toolboxes, which would serve as gift boxes for their Mother’s Day gifts. The students are excited to give the gifts that they shopped for and made for their mom!
Congratulations to our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students for continuing to practice their Budgeting, Resources, Independence, Growth, Empowerment and Social Skills!
