Topic “40-60+m”  

- Things that go together cards - click here to print.

1. Print and cut out the things that go together cards.
2. Split the cards into two piles, making sure one of each pair is in a different pile. 
3. Lay one pile of cards on the table in front of you.
4. Explain to your child that you will take turns at choosing a card and then searching for the item that goes togeher with it.
5. You may need to model a turn.
6. When you turn the card over, name the item.
7. When you find the item that goes with it, name that item too and explain why they go togeher, e.g. 'fork and knife - you use them both to eat your dinner.
8. Continue until all the pairs have matched up.

Sheet with 3 columns, one headed "who?", one headed "what?", one headed "why?"

Brick cube

'Wh' word symbols

You can make these resources using the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint.

1. Use the sheet as you retell stories or events or activities that you have recently done with the child. Fill in the columns so that you can 'read' across the sheet and retell the story.
2. Each time ask the child a 'wh' question and give any help needed with the answer so that the child feels successful.
3. Stick the 'wh' word symbols to the sides of a brick cube. Have a picture available to discuss and play games rolling the cube and answering the 'wh' question that is uppermost on the dice.

Picture cards with emotions

Optional - choice of pictures showing possible reasons - for example a picture of a boy who has fallen over to go with a picture of a boy who is crying.

1. Look at an emotion picture card - discuss what is happening, for example, "Look... the boy is crying.";
2. Ask 'Why is he crying?' and give a model answer for example "because he is sad", "because he fell over".

One or more pictures showing scenes - for example someone running away, a hot beach.

Or...

Pictures in a book.

Two toys one desirable and one not.

Laminated A3 sheet divided in half with a line, with an "I like" symbol on one side and an "I don’t like" symbol on the other side (symbols could be a smiley face and a sad face);

Assortment of pictures of food, animals, cartoon characters, games etc.;

Use Velcro or blue-tak to attach pictures to board.

You can also get picture symbols from the Commtap Symboliser.

1. Talk through the "I like/ I don’t like" board with the child. 
2. Start with a picture of food – as most children have clear ideas about what foods they like and dislike!
3. Choose a food picture and show the child, asking "X, do you like broccoli?" 
4. Attach the picture to the correct side of the board, depending on the child’s response.
5. Once the child has responded for 6-8 pictures, review the board. E.g “You like apples, chocolate and pasta, but you don’t like broccoli, oranges or ice-cream." 
6. Take the pictures off the board and support the child to ask another adult/ peer "Do you like..." questions.

Large plastic hoop.

Assortment of pictures of food, animals, cartoon characters, games etc. (if needed).

- sets of 3 picture sequencing cards - you will need to source these.

- First, next, last symbols - click here to print.

1. Choose a set of three cards and mix them up.

2. Ask your child to sort the pictures in the order that they happened. If your child finds this hard, put them in order together. Match them to the symbols.

3. Describe what is happening in the pictures using the words first, next and last - you can point to the symbols as you say the words.

4. Encourage your child to describe what is happening using the words first, next and last.

- camera

- first, next, last symbols - click here to print.

Pictures of everyday objects and situations with errors, for example a picture of a house with the front door on the second floor, a picture of a phone with a banana instead of a handset, a someone using an umbrella with holes in it in the rain

Commercially produced

"What's Wrong?" cards are available.

If you have any of your own pictures appropriate for this activity or you know of a link, please consider adding them to the site at www.commtap.org

1. Have a look at the card and get the child to identify what is wrong or unusual about what is depicted on the card.

2. Get the child to talk about what problems could arise from the situation in the picture and how they could be resolved.

3. Get the child to relate the picture to their own experience.

What's wrong pictures (e.g. LDA, Colorcards)

Pen and paper

1. Choose a picture (or let the child choose one). Both people look at it. Take it in turns to describe the picture and say how it should look. Make sure you have a new picture to describe each time.

2. Take it in turns to choose a picture, which you keep hidden from the other person. Describe the picture while the other person tries to draw it based on your description. Compare the drawing to the original picture and say how the picture should look. If the drawing does not look very much like the picture, say why this went wrong.

Large composite pictures (e.g. "passages a decouvrir").

Score sheet (2 columns - one with your name at the top, the other with the child's)

Pen

A group of identical objects e.g. red lego bricks/coloured beakers/paint brushes and an object that is quite different.

Pictures of identical things e.g. lots of pictures of apples/shoes from the computer. Or photo copy something a number of times

Contrast with a different computer image or photo copied item.

Put out the identical objects one at a time and say 'Red lego, red lego' etc 'Look...........the same.' Use a sign/symbol/word to label the things as 'Same'.

Make a show of the item that is different. Label as 'Different' with sign/symbol/word.

Follow the same procedure with pictures as for working with objects.

Colouring -in pictures of house/car/child/snowman etc

Set of snap cards.

This is a preparatory activity for working on sequencing daily events. See also the following (at www.commtap.org):

Sequences three or more pictures;

Sequences three pictures with first next last;

Sequence pictures symbols words

Materials required:

Your own or commercially produced sequencing cards (e.g. Black Sheep press - see "general resources"), Colorcards - available from many educational suppliers)

FIRST/LAST template which looks like this (leaving spaces to put the pictures):

FIRST

LAST

FIRST/NEXT/LAST template, as follows (leave spaces for the pictures):

FIRST

NEXT

LAST

1. Use the first/last template to model the sequence of first and last.

2. Start with 2 picture sequences of a simple event e.g. 'rain falling' 'girl puts up umbrella'.

3. Talk about the pictures. Ask the child 'What is happening in the first picture?' Discuss the consequences of the first picture (getting wet) and what the girl does (puts up the umbrella)

4. Put the two pictures into the template: one in the FIRST column and the other in the LAST column.

5. Do this with a range of 2 sequence picture stories.

6. Turn the cards face down and take turns to turn them over and put them in the right part of the FIRST/LAST template. Can the child tell the story?

7. When the child is confident using the FIRST LAST template to order 2 picture sequences move onto using 3 picture sequences and use the FIRST/NEXT/LAST template.

8. Follow the procedure for working with 2 picture sequences.

FIRST/NEXT/LAST

template

Photos of familiar aspects of school life (use a digital camera to take photos)

Pictures of activities relevant to a school day

e.g. break time, different lessons

Pictures of activities relevant to a weekend day

e.g. going to the park, going to the shops

A strip of card with Velcro on it, long enough to fit the whole sequence on it / timeline

1. Start with just one set of pictures; the school day ones will have the least variation and so should be easier.

2. Go over what the pictures are first.

3. Have the child put them in the right order on the strip to fit their own day.

4. Discuss any variation in routines, and use sequencing language such as 'before, after, first, then, next'. Refer to time for well known points, e.g. start of school, lunch time, home time. Emphasise concepts of 'morning, afternoon, evening, night'.

5. Introduce pictures of activities at home and put in order for a weekend or holiday day. When the children are confident with this, you could give them all the pictures and have them sort them out.

Pens / pencils

Paper

Glue

Scissors

Black Sheep Worksheets:

There are several relevant packs, including 'times of the day' and 'days'.

Black Sheep Press

A set of cards with shapes you are working on - say four with squares on, four with triangles on, four with rectangles on and four with circles on.

1. Place the cards face down;
2. Take it in turns to turn over two cards. Say the name of the shape on the card as you turn it over.
3. If the two cards have the same shape on it you get to keep them, otherwise you turn them back over.

Printed cards with pictures of the shapes and their names.

Selection of 2D shapes.

Toy snake (or some other character)

Basket

3 each of fruit, vegetables, cooked foods.

Whiteboard and pen

1. Set out the food in a row of 3, each different type on a different table.

2. Explain to the children that Sammy Snake is hungry, but doesn't know the names of the foods. He needs them to listen to what he says and go and get him the food he wants, in the basket.

3. The children take it in turn to go shopping with the basket. Sammy gives instructions e.g. 'I want the first fruit and the last vegetable'.

4. The children can take a turn to be Sammy.

Monkey (or some other character)

Washing line

Pegs

Some clothes (dolls clothes are good)

3 wind up toys

'beginning' 'middle' 'end' written on cards and finishing line ribbon

First next last written on pictures of gold silver and bronze medals

The visual timetable used in class, or in your small group / 1:1 session

Pictures sequences of simple animal life cycles

First next last, beginning middle end prompt card / frame

Imagination!

Play Simon Says, but change the rules. The important thing is not 'Simon' or 'no Simon' it is to get the actions right.

Make sure you use the concepts 'before' and 'after' in the instructions and that the children do the steps in the same order that you do them. E.g. 'touch your head after you jump on the spot'.

Written sentences

(use pictures/symbols to support those with reading difficulties)

Pen