Prep Academy students craft sensory games

Students in the new Art 3 class at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s Prep Academy program engineered sensory friendly games for one of the component elementary districts.

For the past two months, Heather Lohr’s class of 15 students used class time to brainstorm ideas, explore materials and create the games. On Jan. 27 they brought the finished products to Old Mill Road Elementary School in the North Merrick School District.

“After spending the morning teaching the elementary students how to use the games, we then left everything with them to have and use throughout the year,” Lohr said.

A total of 18 games including puzzles, squishy bags, boxes and toss games were included.

“They made a color mixing bean bag toss game where they have to knock over certain pins and a Poke the Rainbow game where students have to poke popsicle sticks through a box by matching the correct colors,” Lohr explained.

This new addition of the Art 3 course provides opportunities to give back to the community.

“This event allowed my Art 3 students to become the teachers for the day and the warm smiles on everyone’s faces proved to be a huge success,” Lohr added.

Art teAcher heAther Lohr, above left, with the six students, Director of Fine & Performing Arts Cheryl Fontana, Emily Paluseo, the director of special education and pupil personnel services, and Executive Director of Alternative Education Eric Arlin.