Hungry Hippo Artic Freebie!

Have y'all grabbed the free Hungry Hungry Hippo app for your iPad yet?  It's super cute.  My kiddos have a blast with it.  However, one of the difficult aspects of using an iPad game just for reinforcement is that I don't feel like I'm maximizing my therapy time.  Every time I hand it over to the students to play, I'm thinking "that's 2 minutes of precious time down the drain."  While of course I'm trying to talk to them and elicit responses during the game, it's usually to no avail.

I know we all like to get as many trials in as we possibly can during our sessions.  That's why speech-related games are SO helpful.  Hopefully, this cute little game will put a smile on your kids' faces, while  increasing your number of trials at the same time.

Aren't these hippos just presh?!

To make this activity you will need:

• hippo and fruit freebie printables
• an empty tissue box (or you could just use small manilla envelopes)
• tape or glue

First, cut out all the hippos and fruit cards.  Cut out the black hole on the hippo's face for his mouth.  Before attaching the hippos onto the sides of the tissue box, I like to cut a slightly larger hole in the box where the mouth would be.  It just makes life easier by not having to cut through the hippo's mouth.  

Tape or glue each hippo to one side of the tissue box.  Tada!  Now you are ready to play.

To play give each student the fruit with their target sound.  Feed the hippos as you say the words on the fruit.  Set the timer and see who can say the most words and feed their hippo in 30 seconds. OR time each student and see how long it takes them to feed all their fruit to the hippo.  Then they can try to beat their own times (this one works better for the kids who can't read the words well).

Tissue box activities are so fun!  My talented friend and coworker, Amy, was the first one to introduce me to the awesomeness of these boxes a couple years ago.

Now we just play a round or two of the app version at the end of the session, after we've gotten all of those lovely trials in.  :)

I found the hippo and fruit clipart from Clker.  

You can download this free game HERE at my TPT store.  Enjoy!