Imitate a peer's play action
When to use this goal
For young students who imitate adults in structured sessions but do not pick up play ideas from peers. Base the choice on imitation data. Peer imitation is how much early play is learned, so this goal opens the door to the peer group.
- Baseline
- Set up 5 opportunities with a coached peer doing simple, interesting actions near the student and record whether the student watches, imitates, or ignores. Compare with imitation of adult models to see whether the gap is attention to peers specifically.
- Tips
- An opportunity is a peer action within the student's view that the student could do with available materials. Score correct when the student does a recognizable version within 10 seconds. The imitation need not be exact. Coach peers to do actions that are fun and repeatable, and to notice when the student copies them ("You did it too!").
- Limits
- Natural peer actions happen fast and unpredictably; coached peers supply most data. Imitation requires attention to the peer, which may be the real gap; a joint-attention goal may be needed first. Does not measure interaction beyond the imitation.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID se-play-003.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, during play when a peer within view does a play action with similar materials (such as stacks blocks, drives a car down a ramp), the student will imitate the peer's play action within 10 seconds using their own materials independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three times per week during play.
Baseline: 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Condition
- Observable behavior
- Criterion
- Measurement method
Measurability check11 of 11 met
Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.
Met: Condition. Stated.
Met: Unit fits the behavior. Opportunities fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Opportunity (trial) recording gives opportunities data.
Met: Review timeframe. Stated.
Met: Baseline and target compatible. Same unit, change in the right direction.
Met: Aligned with area of need. Still about Play & Social Participation.
Met: Level of support. Defined.
Met: Blanks filled in. Nothing left to fill in.
Checks structure and wording only. Whether the goal fits the student is the team's call.
Short-term objectives (optional)
When are objectives required?Required for students on alternate assessments (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)); some states require them for everyone.
Paste into your IEP system
Most district systems have a separate box for each part of a goal. Copy them one at a time, or all at once as labeled text.
- Area of need
- Social-Emotional & Communication - Play & Social Participation
- Baseline
- 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Annual goal433 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, during play when a peer within view does a play action with similar materials (such as stacks blocks, drives a car down a ramp), the student will imitate the peer's play action within 10 seconds using their own materials independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three times per week during play.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- During play when a peer within view does a play action with similar materials (such as stacks blocks, drives a car down a ramp)
- Behavior
- The student will imitate the peer's play action within 10 seconds using their own materials independently
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- Schedule
- Three times per week during play
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Opportunity tracker. One box per opportunity in each session.
Opportunity tracker
Opportunities- Student label:
- Target:
- in at least 4 of 5 opportunities
- Mastery rule:
- across 3 consecutive data collection days
- Collection schedule:
- three times per week during play
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, during play when a peer within view does a play action with similar materials (such as stacks blocks, drives a car down a ramp), the student will imitate the peer's play action within 10 seconds using their own materials independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected three times per week during play.
Key: + demonstrated independently · P demonstrated with a prompt (note type) · − not demonstrated · NA no opportunity occurred
| Date | Activity / context | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | # + (of 5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Record up to 5 opportunities per session, matching the goal's denominator.
- Define in advance what counts as an opportunity so every data collector records the same thing.
- Count only + marks toward the criterion unless the goal specifies prompted responses.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.