Context and Curriculum Alignment

• Year Level: Foundation (Year 0-1)
• Learning Area: Other (Personal and Social Capability / Social Skills)
• Australian Curriculum Link:
  • Focus on developing social skills and relationships as part of the Personal and Social Capability (general capabilities in the Australian Curriculum).
  • Align with the Australian Curriculum v9 emphasis on identity, emotions, and social understanding at early years.
  • Use visual supports and repetition consistent with best practice for students on the autism spectrum.

Student Profile

• 5-year-old, non-verbal autistic boy
• Learning goal: Understand and distinguish ‘his toys’ and ‘shared toys’ to encourage ownership recognition and sharing skills.
• Approach: Evidence-based, autism-affirming strategies featuring sensory-friendly activities, visual supports, social stories, simple language, repetition, and positive reinforcement.

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Lesson 1: Understanding ‘His Toys’

Objective:
The student will recognise and identify ‘his toys’ using visual supports and sensory engagement.

AC Alignment:
Supports development of personal identity and social awareness in early years Personal and Social Capability.

Materials

• His own favourite toys
• Visual cards showing ‘his toys’ with simple pictures and the word ‘My Toy’
• Sensory-friendly play mat

Activities (30 minutes total)

Time	Activity	Details
5 min	Welcome and Sensory Regulation	Soft music, calm lighting, deep pressure squeeze before starting session to help focus.
8 min	Social Story Reading	Use a simple, illustrated social story about ‘My Toys’. Point to ‘his toys’ and use simple language such as "This is my toy." Repeat key phrases. Use objects to show examples.
10 min	Play and Label	Present a few of his toys on the mat. Model touching and naming each toy as “My toy.” Give the student hand-over-hand or model picking up ‘his toy’. Use clear visual cards with picture and “My Toy” written underneath beside each item. Praise and reward calm participation.
4 min	Visual Schedule Review & Calm Down	Show visual schedule: “Play with my toys, then finish.” End session with favourite calm sensory play (e.g., sensory bottle or texture pad).
3 min	Positive Reinforcement	Use favourite praise method (e.g., smile, favourite snack, or preferred item) to encourage positive association with the activity.

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Lesson 2: Recognising ‘Shared Toys’

Objective:
The student will recognise and indicate ‘shared toys’ with adult modelling and visual cues.

AC Alignment:
Supports social awareness and understanding of sharing, aligning with social interaction goals in early years Personal and Social Capability.

Materials

• Shared toys visibly labelled with “Our Toy” pictures
• Social story visuals about sharing
• Visual schedule

Activities

Time	Activity	Details
5 min	Sensory Regulation	Use calming deep pressure or favourite sensory item to prepare for activity.
7 min	Social Story & Visuals	Read and show social story illustrating ‘Our toys’ and sharing. Use hands-on examples and gesture. Repeat key wording, “This is our toy” / “We share.”
10 min	Shared Toy Play & Modelling	Present 2-3 shared toys with labels. Adult models sharing and hands-over-hand guiding student to hold a shared toy and give it back after a pause. Use positive touch cues and visual signals.
5 min	Reinforce Concept with Visual Cards	Show “My Toy” / “Our Toy” cards, ask student to point or reach for correct cards beside toys.
3 min	Calm Down & Review Visual Schedule	Use visual schedule to show what comes next, calming play or favourite toy access.

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Lesson 3: Practising ‘His Toys’ & ‘Shared Toys’

Objective:
Student practices selecting and sorting ‘his toys’ vs ‘shared toys’ with support.

AC Alignment:
Develops categorising skills, recognition of ownership, and social interaction foundations within Personal and Social Capability.

Materials

• Collection of ‘his toys’ and ‘shared toys’
• Two bins labelled with visual cards “My Toys” and “Our Toys” (using pictures and easy text)

Activities

Time	Activity	Details
5 min	Sensory Prep	Gentle sensory input such as hand massage or weighted lap pad.
10 min	Sorting Task	Tutor models sorting toys into the correct bins labelled ‘My Toys’ and ‘Our Toys’. Provide hand-over-hand assistance to student to sort a few toys repeatedly. Use clear language, “My toy goes here” and “Our toys go here.”
8 min	Repetition and Practice	Repeat task varying toys. Use encouraging body language and simple affirmations.
5 min	Visual Schedule & Review	Review the sorting through a visual schedule; end with a calming sensory activity.
2 min	Positive Reinforcement	Use favourite reinforcer for participation.

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Lesson 4: Sharing in Play

Objective:
Encourage sharing behaviour by modelling and supported turn-taking with ‘shared toys’.

AC Alignment:
Supports social interaction, turn-taking and positive relationships in the Australian Curriculum Personal and Social Capability.

Materials

• Shared toys
• Visual timer
• Social story about taking turns

Activities

Time	Activity	Details
5 min	Sensory Regulation	Engage in deep pressure or proprioceptive activity to prepare.
7 min	Turn-taking Social Story	Show story about sharing and waiting turns. Model gentle sharing behaviour with adult or peer.
10 min	Shared Toy Turn-taking	Adult cues when it's student's turn by showing visual card. Use visual timer to show sharing turn length. Guide student to hold and then give shared toy back with hand-over-hand support.
5 min	Visual Reinforcement	Use visual schedule and picture exchange to reinforce sharing concepts.
3 min	Reward and Calm Down	Praise or preferred activity following successful sharing.

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Lesson 5: Ownership & Sharing Review

Objective:
Consolidate understanding of ‘his toys’ and ‘shared toys’ with opportunity for choice and communication.

AC Alignment:
Encourages identity recognition and social participation in learning environments.

Materials

• All toys from previous lessons
• Picture exchange communication system (PECS) or choice boards with “My Toy” and “Our Toy” pictures
• Visual schedule

Activities

Time	Activity	Details
5 min	Sensory Warm Up	Calming sensory activity at start such as squeezing sensory ball.
10 min	Choice Making with PECS	Present a toy and ask student to indicate “My Toy” or “Our Toy” card via PECS or pointing. Assist with modeling as needed. Praise attempts and successes.
10 min	Guided Play	Provide choices between “his toys” and “shared toys” for play. Allow student to hold and explore, respecting choice. Model language, “My toy” and “Our toy” softly.
3 min	Visual Schedule Review & Goodbye	Use visual schedule to mark completion; include calming favoured activity.

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Evidence-based Strategies Summary

• Social Stories: Clear, simple narratives to build understanding of concepts.
• Visual Supports & Schedules: Provide predictability and structure, vital for autistic learners.
• Modeling & Hand-over-Hand Guidance: Supports engagement and learning through demonstration and physical prompts.
• Sensory Regulation: Key for maintaining attention and comfort in learning.
• Simple, Repetitive Language & Positive Reinforcement: Repetition supports comprehension; reinforcement builds motivation and positive associations.

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Curriculum Links Summary

While there is no explicit ‘ownership and sharing’ content description in the Australian Curriculum v9 for Year 0-1 in a single learning area called ‘Other’, these lessons directly support:

• Personal and Social Capability (General Capability): Developing self-awareness and social management.
• Social Skills Development: Foundational to effective learning and participation as per the curriculum cross-curriculum priorities and embedded capabilities.
• Incorporation of visual and multimodal communication aligns with curriculum emphasis on diverse learners, including students with disability and diverse communication needs.

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This plan is designed to empower teachers with a highly structured, visually-supported, sensory-attuned approach that meets the unique needs of non-verbal autistic students in early childhood settings, aligned with the Australian Curriculum framework and best practice autism educational strategies.