Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Matching Pairs |
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Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Subcategory Dice - Printable subcategory dice templates
- Printable subcategory cards
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| If your child is finding this task challenging, you can help by searching for an item together. It may also be useful to visit activities working on sorting items into categories - click here.
If your child is able to do this activity, when they select a card, you could ask them to think of another item that belongs to that subcategory but is not in the picture cards. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Category Dice |
| If your child is finding this task challenging, you can help by searching for an item together. It may also be useful to visit activities working on sorting items into categories - click here.
If your child is able to do this activity, when they select a card, you could ask them to think of another item that belongs to that category but is not in the picture cards.
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Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Play a game with adult supervision Marble run; Bricks for sharing building and knocking down a tower; Any lotto game where pictures have to be matched; Skittles; Pushing cars down a run/pipe. pictures of children taking part |
| Keep turns short and snappy so children don't need to wait too long. Keep the time spent on the whole game short and snappy so children don't get bored. Support good waiting by saying "you are waiting..." sometimes the child will find it easier to wait if they have something to hold while they wait - this could be a waiting symbol.
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Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Familiar picture books
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| Teach these concepts using repeated phrases and matching them as much as possible with the relevant symbol. Allow thinking time. Reward any attempts. |
Photos of people One or more of these:
...and if required:
| You may need to give the child a language model before he/she can ask a 'who' question. | |
Who is around? A situation where there are other people - for example in class, in the playground. "Who" symbol card if required. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Play with dolls A male doll A female doll 2 identical sets of items, e.g. toy food, counters, any small items.
| 1. Explain to the child that you are going to play a game that will help them learn 'him and 'her. 2. Set out the dolls and the items. Explain that you call the male doll 'him' and the female doll, 'her'. 3. Give you child instructions - e.g. give the cup to him, give the plate to her. 4. After a few turns, ask your child to give you an instruction using the word 'him' or 'her'. | Before woring on him/her, make sure your child can understand and use he/she - click here for activities to develop these concepts. |
Him/her sorting game |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Practical sequences Camera to make the picture sequences (or alternatively you can draw them or use a commercial resource). Resources as appropriate to carry out a simple sequence Examples of sequences (with suggested steps to make pictures for): Putting on a jumper (get jumper, put head through, put arms through); Drinking a drink (jug and cup, pour water into the cup, drink it) Peeling and eating a piece of fruit (fruit, peel fruit, eat it) Sitting down and eating dinner Drawing a picture (pencil and paper, child drawing, finished picture) Looking at a book (get it, open it, look at it) | 1. Carry out the activity without the pictures; 2. Do it again, showing the relevant picture for each part of the activity as you do it; 3. Get the child to do the sequence, tell them what to do by showing them a picture for each part of the sequence; 4. Get them to show you what to do by giving you a picture for each part of the sequence. Try to do exactly as the picture you are given indicates, for example if they give you a picture of someone blowing bubbles without having given you the step for opening the bubbles container, try to blow the bubbles anyway (and act being disappointed when you don't get any bubbles). | At this level children may often be able to learn particular sequences of pictures without understanding that they relate to a sequence of actions, these activities are designed to address this issue. Seeing how the sequence goes wrong if the wrong picture is chosen (in step 4) will encourage the child to work out which should have been the right picture without you needing to give any further feedback. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Self Care Activities Camera to make the picture sequences (or alternatively you can draw them or use a commercial resource). Resources as appropriate to carry out a simple sequence Examples of sequences: Clean teeth: get toothpaste, open lid, get brush, squeeze toothpaste onto brush, put lid back onto toothpaste, brush teeth, spit out, put brush under water, repeat, clean brush, put brush away. Wash hands: turn on tap, rinse hands, put soap on hands, scrub hands, rinse under water, turn tap off, dry with towel. Brush hair: get brush, brush hair, put brush away. Deodorant: get deodorant, take off lid, spray at appropriate area, put lid back on, put away. | 1. Carry out the sequence without the pictures; 2. Do it again, showing the relevant picture for each part of the activity as you do it; 3. Get the student to do the sequence, showing them a picture for each part of the sequence as they do it; 4. Get them to show you what to do by giving you a picture for each part of the sequence. Try to do exactly as the picture you are given indicates, for example if they give you a picture of scrubbing your hands before the tap is turned on/before you have the soap, try to do this - but appear confused when this doesn't work. | At this level students may often be able to learn particular sequences of pictures without understanding that they relate to a sequence of actions, these activities are designed to address this issue. Seeing how the sequence goes wrong if the wrong picture is chosen (in step 4) will encourage the student to work out which should have been the right picture without you needing to give any further feedback. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Less food 3 soft toys Plastic tea set Plastic food |
| Avoid working on "less" and "more" together as there is a risk that the child may confuse them. When the child is able to use "less" and "more" on separate occasions in separate activities, you can then use both together in this activity - e.g. ask "More/less banana here?" and so on. |
Fruit Salad Two bowls and fruit to cut into fruit salad | You could do this activity at snack time - sharing some fruit between two or more children. | |
Using "less" with various materials See-through plastic cups Materials to put in them, for example: water beans sand pegs bricks pens Optional: symbol for 'less' - this can help to reinforce the concept for some children. If you don't already have one, you can get a symbol for "less" through the Commtap Symboliser. | You need to make the learning very visible. Allow the child to explore materials and give time to respond to questions. Give lots of opportunity for repetition. Provide a central group of items against which 'less' can be compared. Avoid working on "less" and "more" together as there is a risk that the child may confuse them. When the child is able to use "less" and "more" on separate occasions in separate activities, you can then use both together in this activity: use three beakers, have more in one beaker and less in another (than the central beaker). | |
Sharing out materials Materials, for example: beans sand pegs bricks pens Symbol for 'less' 2 different coloured sheets If you don't already have one, you can get a symbol for "less" through the Commtap Symboliser. | Avoid working on "less" and "more" together as there is a risk that the child may confuse them. When the child is able to use "less" and "more" on separate occasions in separate activities, you can then use both together in this activity: use three sheets, have more in one sheet and less on the other (than the central sheet). | |
Biscuit decorating Biscuits Something to sprinkle on to them | Avoid working on "less" and "more" together as there is a risk that the child may confuse them. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Story String String Pegs Who-what-where-what prompt sheet using symbols, colour-coded:
Who (orange) What (i.e. objects - green) Where (red) What (i.e. actions - yellow)
Picture cards in separate bags or envelopes follows: Who envelope: e.g. various people, animals, monsters, spacemen, football players What (objects) envelope: e.g. football, car, rocket, computer, stick, box, bicycle Where envelope: e.g. park, mountain, house, beach What (actions) envelope: e.g. jump, sleep, fly, fall, cry, drive You could also use the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint to get picture symbols for these items. | 1. Pick a card from each envelope and peg them onto the string. 2. Make up a simple story which has everything on the string in it. 3. Have the child recap the main parts of the story to you, using the prompt sheet. 4. Take it in turns to make up the story, but have the child do the retell of it every time. | |
Story Retell A familiar story, and key pictures of who, where, what and what happened in the story. (You might be able to photocopy this from a book). Who-what-where-what prompt sheet using symbols, colour-coded:
Who (orange) What (i.e. objects - green) Where (red) What (i.e. actions - yellow) You could use the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint to get symbols. | Example: Goldilocks - book Pictures: Who: Goldilocks, 3 bears Where: house, forest What things: porridge, chair, bed What happened: hot, walking, eating, breaking, sleeping, come back, run away You could vary this by watch short clips of film / computer programmes instead of having the book. | |
Walk the walk A wind up toy (e.g. Simon the Sheep) Pictures of things it might see or do on its walk Who-what-where-what prompt sheet using symbols, colour-coded:
Who (orange) What (i.e. objects - green) Where (red) What (i.e. actions - yellow) You could use the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint to get symbols. | ||
Any story or recount of an event Who-what-where-what prompt sheet using symbols, colour-coded:
Who (orange) What (i.e. objects - green) Where (red) What (i.e. actions - yellow) You could use the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint to get symbols. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Marble run game Marble run game; Waiting cards. |
| Keep this activity for the end of a small group work session. Keep the activity short and snappy so that the children keep motivated. Choose really interesting toys for this activity that the children don't have general access to. |
Songs Box of song cards with a name/picture for each song that could be chosen. |
| Keep the song short - only sing a bit of it to avoid the children having to wait to long between choosing a song. |
A bag with a selection of appealing toys inside | ||
Stickers Variety of stickers - for example of cartoon characters, cars, animals etc. | You could do this activity as an activity to end a group session. Some children may find it difficult to peel off a sticker - give them minimum help to do it themselves, for example peeling up a small corner of a sticker. | |
Bubbles Pot of bubbles liquid. | Depending on the children, it may be easier (and less messy!) to pass the bubble wand (stick) around and for you to keep hold of the bubbles container - on their turn they dip the wand into the bubbles to blow. | |
Musical instruments One drum or other instrument. Or, on drum or other instrument for each child. | ||
Any other high interest activity game that can be used in a small group Game Waiting cards |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Play a game with adult supervision Marble run; Bricks for sharing building and knocking down a tower; Any lotto game where pictures have to be matched; Skittles; Pushing cars down a run/pipe. |
| Keep turns short and snappy so children don't need to wait too long. Keep the time spent on the whole game short and snappy so children don't get bored. Support good waiting by saying "you are waiting..." sometimes the child will find it easier to wait if they have something to hold while they wait. You might need to make a chart of your child's name and the friend's name and point to each name at the appropriate time to make the idea of turn taking more visible. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Items from a bag 1 Bag Set of objects which the child understands the names of | 1. Take the objects out of the bag one at a time, for each item say to the child "It's a [name of object]" for example "It's an apple". Look to the child for confirmation that it's an apple (as if you are not quite sure). Then, with certainty, say "Yes, it's an apple"; 2. After a few items, start to get the occasional item wrong (use exactly the same not-quite-sure facial expression you used before). E.g. "It's a pencil" (but it's a toy car). Can the child tell you that it isn't? If not, have a look at the item again and pretend to suddenly realise you were wrong, say "(oh) No, it's not a pencil. It's a car. 3. Repeat. | This activity requires a bit of play acting to work well. Over time you may be able to name/incorrectly name items more quickly, and be more positive about being right every time (even though you are not). |
Jemima and Polly Two toy animals or dolls (each with a name) (Optional) things that the dolls can use, e.g. tea set |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Turn taking in a circle Selection of highly motivating toys Squeeze ball/sponge | 1. Sit the children in a circle and take toys out of a bag. The child is allowed first choice of toys on the first occasion that toys are taken out of the bag but on subsequent occasions will have to wait. A squeeze ball or sponge may help a child to wait by giving the child something to fiddle with while they wait. 2. While the child is waiting for a go with a desirable toy praise good waiting. 3. Gradually extend the time the child must wait. | |
Sharing desk equipment during class. 'First......then' card - example Desk equipment e.g. glue, scissors, rulers. | ||
Situations where the child has to accept not having his/her own way straight away. A short 'story' specially written to explain the behaviour that is wanted in the situation. | Writing short stories to explain difficult situations and to help children manage their behaviour is a technique developed by Carol Grey. The stories are called Social Stories. Her books about writing social stories and how to use them include: 'My Social Story Book' and 'New Social Story Book'. |
Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
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Marble run game Marble run Waiting cards (as required) | 1. Set up the track and pass the marbles round the children. When everyone has had one go say 'Who's turn next?' You want the children to name the next child in the circle and to pass the marbles with as little prompting as possible. Some children may need handover hand modelling to pass the marbles. 2. The target child may need to hold a waiting card to support waiting for their turn. | Keep this activity for the end of a small group work session. Keep the activity short and snappy so that the children keep motivated. Choose really interesting toys for this activity that the children don't have general access to. |
Any other high interest activity game that can be used in a small group | ||
Toys from a bag A bag with a selection of appealing toys inside. |
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