Autism demystified with Puppets in Education

Shelburne Community School kindergarten through fifth grade students had an eye-opening experience with Puppets in Education at the end of October. Each grade level had a presentation on a different topic.

Puppets in Education is a nonprofit organization that has been operating in Vermont for three decades. This organization is dedicated to teaching children how to keep themselves safe and healthy and to appreciate each other’s physical and cultural differences. The program works to help every child realize his or her full potential.

Kindergarten classes participated in the “Friend 2 Friend Autism Demystification Program.” This program was chosen to foster understanding, acceptance and empathy while promoting pro-social relationships between those on the autism spectrum and their typically developing peers.

First and second graders participated in the “Physical and Sexual Abuse Prevention Program.” This was chosen to complement their lessons involving ACT 1, which provide all students, staff and families with developmentally appropriate education about recognizing, reporting and preventing sexual abuse.

Third and fourth graders participated in performances related to “Learning Differences and Bullies and School Safety.”

Fifth graders participated in a “Bullies and School Safety Workshop” where students had an opportunity to learn and practice strategies for dealing with bullying behavior.

Presentations helped students feel empowered to celebrate their differences, to reach out to friends with learning differences, to stand up to friends who are teasing them or leaving them out and to create a school that is safe, responsible and respectful.

Shearer Chevrolet funded the two-day presentation.