Topic “L1-L5”

Communication activities for classes

A selection of speaking and listening activities on Commtap which could be used with classes, for example on No Pens Day Wednesday. If you spot any other suitable activities on the site, you can edit this page. Or if you have an idea for another activity, you could add it to the site.

Learn new words

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Exploring words Written word with a picture Written sounds for beginning/ end of each word Visuals for the story Dictionary (maybe)	Ideas you can use to help word learning - you do not need to use all of them, and some will work better than others for different children. 1. Introduce the written form of the word; 2. Say the word to the child and ask for repetition; 3. Ask the child to clap syllables on your or their hands, use prompting if necessary. Or alternatively they could tap the syllables out on pictures of drums (say four arranged in a row); 4. Ask if any other words rhyme with this new word (think of examples yourself) - you could take this in turns in a group; 5. Ask for beginning and ending sounds; 6. Tell the child a short story or anecdote, including the word as the main feature if possible - or work with the child to work a story out; 7. Give an explicit definition (school dictionary maybe - some dictionaries are more helpful than others for this!) and give context(s) preferably first one being the one used in the story as it’s familiar but make sure to offer other contexts; 8. Ask the child if they can put the word in a sentence/ tell a short story including the word; 9. If ability allows, ask the child if they know of any word which means a similar thing.	These activities help to build a child’s vocabulary with solid representations of words. It gives a child strategies to use when learning and remembering new words. It builds the child’s confidence on a topic, especially if taught before the relevant lesson.

Word Web Resources

Resources on this site for using word webs:

Using word webs to learn new vocabulary/words

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
What word am I? - A selection of word webs you have already completed with the word in the middle covered. - Post it notes	1. Choose a word web and cover the attributes of the word with post it notes as well as the word in the centre. 2. Explain to your child/student that you will take the post it notes off one by one and they have to try and guess the word that is hiding. 3. See how quickly they are able to guess the word.	This activity will help your child/student to recall words that they have learnt.

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