speech and language teaching concepts for Out Cold in speech therapy
Frequent Speech Sounds:

/br/ initial (Bruce)
/s/ medial and final (Thistle, Bruce)
/r/ initial (Rubert)
/er/ medial (Rubert)
/n/ initial (Nibbs)
/th/ initial (Thistle)

Themes:

winter

Book Details:
Diverse Characters: N/A
Age Recommendation: Early Childhood, Elementary

Out Cold

By Ryan T. Higgins

It’s wintertime in Soggy Hollow and the mice are doing all their favorite outdoor things, like ski jumping, building a snow family, and ice skating. But not Bruce. He’s inside with a cold. So the mice decide to bring the winter fun indoors! Lucky Bruce!

This funny winter book can be used in speech therapy to address negation and sequencing. It is also great for illustration study and inferencing! Discover more of the speech and language teaching concepts for using Out Cold in speech therapy below: 

Key Teaching Concepts

Narrative Structure:

complete episode

Narrative Concepts:

vocabulary
character analysis
negation
illustration study
inferencing

Sequencing:

order of wintry activities the mice did outside and then order of activities they introduced Bruce to

Vocabulary:

cold (adjective), cold (noun), wintry, graceful, flooded, freeze, tuckered, cozy, hibernating

Character Analysis:

The mice are loud and excited about all the winter activities. They want their friend Bruce to enjoy them too, but then finally realize that Bruce may need to lay down because he doesn’t feel well.

Bruce is grumpy, would rather be hibernating, but takes care of the mice when they become sick.

Social/Emotional:

How do you take care of someone who is sick?
How would you feel if someone was being loud when you were trying to rest or if your head hurt?
What could the mice do differently to help Bruce?
What could the mice do differently to enjoy winter with Bruce?
How was Bruce a good friend?

Grammar:

negation

Inferencing:

How do you think Bruce feels?
Should the mice play loud instruments around someone who doesn’t feel well? Why or why not?
Why do you think Bruce sent the mice out?
Should the mice bring snow into the house?
Why is it not a good idea to bring snow into the house?
How do you think Bruce feels about his bathroom floor being frozen ice?
Was Bruce ready for the ski jump?
Why do you think Bruce is tired?