New Orleans Mardi Gras is definitely on my bucket list! I’ve been fortunate enough to experience Carnival in Europe, but I’ve never been to New Orleans. That said, Mardi Gras is one of my favorite themes for speech and language. Children love learning about the parade and the King cake. There are also many fun crafts to make while targeting goals.
There are many lessons that can be built off of Mardi Gras. Below are some ideas:
Practice speech sounds during reading aloud - Depending on the child’s age, this can be historical background or a picture book about Mardi Gras. Model speech sounds for your child, and then have the child say the words back.
Make a mask craft - Focus on following 1-2 step directions, describing the mask, and use prepositions while crafting.
Learn about Mardi Gras - Explore the holiday’s history, the traditional foods, and how people celebrate. This is a great opportunity to build vocabulary, make inferences, and answer comprehension questions.
Grammar - There are many opportunities to practice verbs and other grammatical forms while looking at the pictures.
King Cake Baby - Ask about how your child would feel if he or she found the baby in the cake, as well as what it might mean to have good luck for the next year.
Readers: Do you celebrate Mardi Gras at home?
About the Author: Melissa Goff, M.S, CCC-SLP, is the owner of Sunflower Speech & Myo Therapy, PLLC, in Charlotte, NC.
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