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Topic “TAP42”  

Share something with another child

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Choose and give

A variety of stickers or a variety of small pieces of fruit

Explain that each child will choose a sticker/piece of fruit to give to another person in the group.

Give each child an opportunity to do this

Emphasise the importance of giving something the other person would like

Activities to develop categorising items by where you find them/location

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Soring by location activity

1. Print and cut out the resource.

2. Choose how many categories your child is going to sort - it may be best to start with 2 or 3, before making it harder by adding extra categories.

3. Shuffle the items to be sorted. Each take a turn at choosing an item, naming it and placing in the correct location.

4. If your child is finding challenging to name items, use some of the strategies in the word finding information sheet linked above.  

Make a collage

- Paper

- Glue

- A selection of pictures from your chosen category.

Developing the skill of sorting items into categories

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Sorting items by category

- Printable category cards

- Printable category picture cards:

- animals

- body parts

- clothes

- food

- toys

- transport

Or use a seletion of your own real objects or pictures. 

1. Print and cut out the large category cards and the small picture cards.

2. Start by sorting items from teo different categories.

3. Place the picture cards from the categories face down. Explain to your child you are going to sort the items into groups.

4. Each take a turn at choosing a picture card, naming them item and placing it in the on the appropriate category card.

5. If your child is able to sort items into two catgories, next attemp items from three different categories. 

If your child is finding this task challenging, you can help by searching for an item together.

 

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. You could also move on to the activities that involve sorting items into subcategories - click here. 

Activities to develop the use of prepositions 'in', 'on' and 'under' in a short phrase.

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Hide the toy

- Animal pictures or toys

- Toy furniture: table, chair, bed.

1. Place the furniture in front of the child.

2. Ask the child to tell you what to do with an animal of their choosing if they are able to use three word phrases. If they can only use two word phrases, select the toy for them and ask them to tell you where to put it.

e.g. under table / on bed (two word level);

cat under table / sheep on bed (three word level)

 

 

Allow the child to explore materials and give time to respond to questions.

Respond to however the child manages to get their message across (for example if they just point): you may need to demonstrate what you want the child to do using the appropriate language (e.g. "under (the) table").

After the child is familiar with the objects - you can make the task more difficult (and communicative) by putting a screen between the objects and the child whilst they give you an instruction.

 

understand and use prepositions behind in front

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Behind with easily available objects

Cup,

box,

pencil,

ruler

(you could substitute different objects if you prefer)

prompt cards showing the required positions of the items (optional)

1. Tell the child that you are going to put the pencil behind the cup - put the objects in the right places.

2. Next tell them that you are going to put the pencil behind the box.

3. Put the pencil and ruler in different places, describing what you are doing.

Repeat a number of times as necessary putting different objects behind other objects.

4. Then explain it's the child's turn to put the object in the right place. Say "put the pencil behind the box". If the child gets it right, say, "well done, the pencil is behind the box". If s/he gets it wrong, show them where the pencil goes.

5. Carry on giving the child instructions.

6. Let the child have a turn to give the instructions so s/he practices use the words. If the child finds it difficult to think of what to say, make a set of prompt cards.

Make sure that you sit next to the child when you work on these prepositions - this will make sure that what's "behind" for you will also be behind for the child

Each time you describe what you are doing or you ask the child to carry out an action, stress the preposition word so they can hear what the important word in that sentence is.

At first you should usually work on contrasting prepositions, such as "behind" and "in front" separately, as working on them together when they are both new to the child can cause the child to be confused between the two.

"In front" with easily available objects

Materials as above

Behind and "in front" with easily available objects

Make sure that you sit next to the child when you work on these prepositions - this will make sure that what's "behind" for you will also be behind for the child

Each time you describe what you are doing or you ask the child to carry out an action, stress the preposition word so they can hear what the important word in that sentence is.

Do this activity only after you have worked on the prepositions separately.

Hide and seek with miniatures

Miniature people (such as Playmobil) or Teddy, Doll

Places for the miniature people to hide, for example toy furniture, bricks, toy car, book etc.

The more enthusiastically you act his out the better.

This game can be highly motivating.

Picture description

Several paired pictures showing the same person, animal or object behind and in front of an object (e.g. a cat behind a bin and a cat in front of a bin; a person behind a chair and a person in front of a chair, etc.)

Pencil and paper or white board and pen

This activity is particularly useful for children who are mixing up the words "behind" and "in front".

Make sure that the child understands that you are expecting a quick sketch, rather than a very careful drawing that would take a long time to execute.

Understand and use more for quantity

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
More food

3 soft toys

plastic tea set

plastic food

two bowls and fruit to cut into fruit salad

Have a tea party.

Hand out the food. Point out which ones have more. Ask the child to give some food to one of the toys so that it has more.

Make fruit salad. In two bowls. Cut up fruit for the 2 bowls and ask "More banana here? Can the child tell you what to put in each bowl using more?

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.

Various materials

See-through plastic cups

Materials to put in them, for example:

water

beans

sand

pegs

bricks

pens

Symbol for 'more'

If you don't already have a symbol for "more" you can find one in 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 'more' 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:

water

beans

sand

pegs

bricks

pens

Symbol for 'more'

2 different coloured sheets

If you don't already have a symbol for "more" you can find one in 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.

Understand and use larger

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

Drawings of houses and stick man families

Draw pictures of houses with windows and say 'Look...this house has 10 windows...it is larger/bigger.

Draw stick man families and say 'Look...5 children here - this family is larger.'

Avoid working on larger with a contrasting word (such as smaller) until the child is confident with 'larger'. Contrasting concepts taught together can be confusing for the child.

Once the child is confident with both larger and smaller (from work in separate activities on separate occasions) you can incorporate both concepts in this activity.

Washing up

Dirty dishes

Sink/bowl

Water/detergent

Avoid working on larger with a contrasting word (such as smaller) until the child is confident with 'larger'. Contrasting concepts taught together can be confusing for the child.

Once the child is confident with both larger and smaller (from work in separate activities on separate occasions) you can incorporate both concepts in this activity.

Objects

Play dough, dried beans

Avoid working on larger with a contrasting word (such as smaller) until the child is confident with 'larger'. Contrasting concepts taught together can be confusing for the child.

Once the child is confident with both larger and smaller (from work in separate activities on separate occasions) you can incorporate both concepts in this activity.

Pick out shapes from a collection

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Hunt the shape

Plastic shapes

Soft toys

Beakers

Use squares, circles, rectangles etc and play hiding games under soft toys or beakers. As the child or you 'find ' the item label it, for example: 'Look...a circle.'

You need to make the learning very visible.

Allow the child to explore the materials and give time to respond to questions.

Use simple language and as much as possible use the same phrases to name shapes e.g. 'Square...this is a square.'

Use lots of repetition.

Posting

Plastic shapes

Post box

Bag (optional)

Allow the child to explore the materials and give time to respond to questions.

Join dots to make shapes

Dotted pictures of shapes

Pencil, colouring pencils or crayons

A post box (optional)

Use simple language and as much as possible use the same phrases to name shapes e.g. 'Square...this is a square.'

Use lots of repetition.

Play dough modelling

Play dough, plasticene or similar.

Allow the child to explore materials and give time to respond to questions

Use simple language and as much as possible use the same phrases to name shapes e.g. 'Square...this is a square.'

Use lots of repetition.

On under in out

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Hiding game

"under"

3 common containers e.g. cup, box and hat

Small toy e.g. car/ball

Teddy

Encourage the child to close their eyes and hide the toy 'under' one container

While the child is trying to find the toy model the word 'under'. "Is it under the hat", "Is it under the box"

When the child finds the toy encourage them to say where it is.

Swap roles the child now has a turn to hide the toy. Using a teddy or another child, pretend teddy is closing his eyes/or ask other child to close eyes and ask the child "Where shall we hide it?" The child then has to say where.

Start with just one preposition and give lots of models of e.g. "under"

For expression give forced alternative e.g. "is it under the hat or under the box"

When the child has learnt 'under' introduce another preposition and move on to discriminating between e.g. 'in and under'

Use sign for 'under' along with the word to help understanding

Use everyday situations to model the word 'under'

Understanding and using "on" and "under" through physical play

Class room furniture

PE furniture

Playground furniture

Play games in a small group sitting on the chair and sitting under the table, crawling on a mat or carpet and crawling under a table or chair. Comment on what the child is doing e.g. 'Look......you are on the mat' or 'Look........you are under the table'

Can the child give instructions about who must go under or on a piece of furniture?

This activity is much more fun in a PE setting or a playground if you can arrange it.

Label the children's activities with clear 2 or 3 word phrases.

Repeat the phrases over and over again to give lots of learning opportunities.

These concepts are taught in contrasting pairs to illustrate the concepts clearly.

Understanding "on" and "under" using small toys

Small plastic animals or Playmobil people.

Boxes and containers to hide the small toys.

 

Make this a fun game! Can some children not look while a toy is hidden by another child etc.?

Understanding "in" and "under" when looking at pictures

Give lots of rewards for success and correct mistakes by saying ‘Look........this is on. Dog is on the box’ etc.

Understanding "in" and "out" through physical play
Understanding "in" and "out" using small toys

Keep the activities fun and snappy!

Understanding "in" and "out" when looking at pictures

Activities to develop understanding of the concepts front and back

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Draw a picture

- Paper and drawing materials

- Object that looks different at the front/back.

1. Ask you child to look at the item in front of them and draw a picture of it.

2. Now turn the object around and ask them to take a look at it from the back, and to draw it again.

3. Talk about the pictures using the words "front" and "back" in your descriptions. Ask your child to say which ones show the back of the figure and which ones the front.

Jump on board game

Understand and use one more

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Tea party

3 soft toys

plastic tea set

plastic food

two bowls and fruit to cut into fruit salad

Have a tea party.

Hand out the food. Point out which ones have more. Ask the child to give a piece of plastic food to one of the toys so that it has one more - say that it has got "one more".

Make fruit salad. Use two bowls. Cut up fruit for the two bowls and ask 'One more piece of banana here? Can the child tell you what to add to each bowl using 'one more'?

Avoid working on "one more" and "one less" together until the child has mastered both of these.

When both are mastered, you can mix both concepts in this activity, for example asking "one less banana here?"

Number line

Avoid working on "one more" and "one less" together until the child has mastered both of these.

Understand and use one less

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Tea party

3 soft toys

Plastic tea set

Plastic food

Two bowls and fruit to cut into fruit salad

Have a tea party.

Hand out the food. Point out which ones have less. Ask the child to take away a piece of plastic food from one of the toys so that it has one less - say that it has got "one less".

Make fruit salad. Use two bowls. Cut up fruit for the two bowls and ask 'One less banana here? 'Can the child tell you what to take out of each bowl using 'one less'.

Avoid working on "one more" and "one less" together until the child has mastered both of these.

When both are mastered, you can mix both concepts in this activity, for example asking "one more banana here?"

Number line

Number line

Avoid working on "one more" and "one less" together until the child has mastered both of these.

Counts up to 5 objects

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Activities from TAP sheet: "MN P6 counts to 3.doc"

"Counts to 3" activities sheet on www.commtap.org.

Materials as described on this sheet.

Use materials and activities described in this activities sheet.

Extend the activities to go up to the number 5.

See the guidelines given on the sheet.

Write a message using own name and 1 or 2 words

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Greetings Cards

Examples of real greetings cards (birthday cards, fathers' day cards, etc), which have had a hand written message added.

Photocopied A4 paper or a piece of card containing a printed greeting, (e.g. 'Happy Birthday') for each pupil, and for yourself to use as a model.

Pencils, Pens, felt tip pens, crayons.

Pictures to stick on the front of the card (optional).

Glue/glue stick (optional).

1. Talk with the child about why people send each other cards. Explain you are going to write a message in a card and send it to xyz.

2. Show the pupil a real card and identify the front of the card, where the picture usually is. Read any printed words on the front of the card to the pupil. Point at each word as you read it.

3. Show the pupil which direction the card opens. Then show the pupil the printed greeting inside the card. Point at and read the greeting to the pupil.

4. Finally, show the pupil the handwritten message written in the card. Talk about the difference between the printed greeting and the handwritten message.

5. Point at and read the handwritten message to the pupil. Explain that we write the word 'To' and the other person's name above the printed greeting. Explain that we write the word 'from' and our own name under the printed greeting.

6. Tell the children you are going to draw a picture / stick a picture on the front of your card and write a message inside it.

7. Demonstrate drawing a picture on the front of the card.

8. Open your card. Point at and read the printed greeting inside the card with the pupil.

9. Model writing the first part of the message (To xyz) above the printed greeting. Emphasise the initial sound of each word as you slowly write it.

10. Model writing the second part of the message, (from and your name) underneath the printed greeting.

11. When you have finished writing your message, encourage the child to read it back with you as you point at the words.

12. Give the child their own piece of paper/card and 'read' the printed greeting inside with them.

13. Tell the child s/he is going to make their own card. Decide with the child who they are going to send the card to.

14. Ask the child to show you where they are going to draw the picture.

15. Ask the child to show you where they are going to write 'To xyz' inside the card.

16. Ask the child to show you where they are going to write 'From' and their own name inside the card.

17. Ask the child to draw a picture / stick a picture on the front of their own card and write their message inside the card. If necessary you could make another card yourself alongside the pupil to remind them where to write the message.

This activity could be done with an individual pupil or with a small group of up to 6 pupils in total.

Many different types of cards could be made as appropriate e.g.

  • birthday cards mothers'/fathers' day cards,
  • festival cards (e.g. for Eid and Christmas etc.),
  • get well soon cards,
  • thank you cards, congratulations cards,
  • sorry you are leaving cards.

Key vocabulary to focus on may include the words:

To

Mum, Dad (optional)

Love (optional)

from (optional)

Child's name

This may be an opportunity to introduce the idea of using capital letters in writing. If your pupil is not ready for this yet, you could just use lower case letters, except for names.

If the pupil has directionality difficulties, you could play a game where you deliberately open the card up incorrectly and encourage the pupil to correct you.

You may want to put the card in an envelope and model writing the person's name on the front of it.

Although the child may need to copy the words 'To' and 'from' from your card, make sure that they don't copy your name in 'from xyz' section and that they write their own name.

Sequences three pictures showing a practical activity

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

Going to the door and lining up

Sitting down and eating dinner

Drawing a picture (pencil and paper, child drawing, finished picture)

Bubbles (unscrew lid, remove wand, blow bubbles)

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.

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