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Topic “Primary (5-11yrs)”  

Primary school age (5-11 years)

Name common objects

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Story books and pictures

Describe and look for things and actions in story books and pictures.

Fishing game

pictures with paper clips attached, magnetic fishing rods, 'pond' e.g. a flat box

Put cards in the box, take turns to fish for a picture, say/sign what is fished out.

Give the pupil time to name the object. Help them by giving a prompt (e.g. a forced alternative, the first sound. or the word or sign to repeat)

'Hide the fish'

Eight picture cards, small piece of paper with a fish drawn on it

Collages

Pictures of everyday objects, background pictures (Black Sheep Sentence Builder and Narrative Packs have some good ones)

Give the pupil time to name the object. Help them by giving a prompt (e.g. a forced alternative, the first sound. or the word or sign to repeat)

Have each child take a turn at thinking of other items they could add to that collage. They can draw these on.

Jotters

Pictures of everyday objects from class and outside. A blank jotter book

Have the child take a turn at thinking of other items they could add

Odd one out activites

Pictures of everyday objects from class and outside

Give the pupil time to think about it. Help them by giving a prompt (e.g. a forced alternative, talking about where you find each object and what you do with it.)

Starts to greet familiar people using a reward chart system

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Says ‘Hello’ to 3 familiar people
  • Digital camera
  • Velcro
  • Laminated sheet of paper
  • Stickers
  • Laminated symbols for  ‘Hello’

If you don't already have a symbol for "hello" you can find one in the Commtap Symboliser.

 

  1. Agree with 3 familiar people that the child is going to start greeting them by saying ‘Hello’.
  2. Explain to the people you have selected that the child is learning to greet another person and there are a number of steps to this.
  3. Explain that the child will get a sticker reward for starting to say ‘hello’.
  4. Ask the people you have selected to respond to the child’s greeting by making eye contact and saying ’hello’ with a welcoming gesture.
  5. The steps for greeting include:
    • Stopping
    • Looking
    • Gesturing
    • Handing over a symbol of ‘Hello’
    • Saying/signing ‘Hello’
  6. Take photos of the people you want the child to greet and laminate.
  7. Put the photos on a laminated sheet of A4 paper using velcro.
  8. Next to each photo velcro on a laminated symbol of ‘Hello’.
  9. As you approach the target person they need to stop and get down to make eye contact with the child and say and gesture ‘hello’. It is best to use just one word.
  10. Help the child identify the person in the photos by pointing to the photo.
  11. You model saying ‘Hello + name + welcoming gesture. As you do this point to the person’s photo and then point to the ‘hello’ symbol.
  12. Support the child to do the same if needed.
  13. The child gets a sticker for stopping / looking / gesturing / saying ‘Hello’ verbally.
  14. As the child learns the routine slowly give fewer and fewer prompts for greeting targeted adults.
  15. Keep giving stickers for as long as the child needs this reinforcement.

The length of these instructions show that this is quite a difficult routine to learn!

The object of the activity is give the child conventional politeness.

Allow time to develop this skill.

 

Develop an awareness that different people have different preferences

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
I like/ I don’t like

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.
Jump in the hoop

Large plastic hoop.

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

Use "is" to join a noun to an adjective

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Sentence Sequencing cards

Cards showing a range of nouns and adjectives plus the words "the" and "is". DLTK's examples. (https://www.dltk-kids.com/)

Pencil and paper (optional)

1. Lay the word "is" on the table in front of the child. Put the word "the" to the left of this, with a gap in between them. Check that the child can read both words;

2. Put one of the noun cards into the gap between the words "the" and "is";

3. Put one of the adjective cards after the word "is";

4. Read the sentence to the child (e.g. "the monster is green");

5. Encourage the child to make up new sentences in the same manner. It doesn't matter if the sentences are silly;

6. You can use the paper to record the sentences made, or for the child to draw an appropriate picture on.

Only suitable for children who can read simple single words.

What's in the bag?

Feely bag containing a range of objects (choose objects appropriate for the children you are working with);

"is" cue card as previous activity.

Able to play simple action games and respond to greetings

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Playing action games

Action toys

Action nursery rhymes

1. Use any toy which you need to post or press a key or push a part to make something happen e.g. rolling marbles down a kitchen roll holder, catching fish with a magnet and putting into a pond, press a button and the toy pops up. Set the toy up and take turns to have a go.

2. Play round and round the garden type games. Start the game and pause before the exciting end part and wait for the child to indicate he/she wants you to continue by the child looking at you or moving your hand to show he/she wants more.

Child learns to take turns

Child accepts ending and starting a turn

Child says bye.

Be consistent in the ritual. The only thing that varies is the names of the people involved.

Child greets familiar adults

Soft toys

Child sits in a small group for story time.

Comfy bean bags and favourite book

First next last; first last templates

First next last; first last templates

Template to use for first/next/last or first/last sequencing - with space for pictures. Example activities: sequences three pictures with first next and last.

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Initiation prompt cards

Initiation prompt cards

Examples of prompt cards you could use to help a child initiate - includes the main part of a sentence which the child may need to fill in using a name. Example activity.

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Robert's Friend

One day there was a boy called Robert. He was starting at a new school. On his first day, he met lots of children in his class. At playtime, he went outside with everyone else. Some children played football. Some children played hopscotch. Some children ran around and played tag. Robert wished he could play. He didn’t know anybody yet.

Robert's Friend

Robert's Friend
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Phrases cards for emotions game

Phrases cards for emotions game

Phrases cards for use with the emotions game.

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Generic game track

Generic game track

A coloured track which, along with dice and counters for example, could be used to make a variety of activities into a game - for example, shake the dice, move the counter, and if you land on an orange square, pick a card and describe what is on it.

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1-6 Grid

1-6 Grid

Grid containing the numbers 1 to 6. This can be used in a number of games - for example this emotions game.

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Sources of Information, Support and Additional Resources

This is a list of some sources of information, support and resources in the UK. You can edit this page, or you could create another page for organisations in your country.

Information and Support 

Sources of Information, Support and Additional Resources

Sources of Information, Support and Additional Resources
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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.

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