Lesson 302


Lesson 302
Book
Identifying Familiar Objects
Based on 2-3 Key Characteristics


     

     

Objectives

To teach your child to

a) listen, understand, and process sentences that describe objects
b) listen to longer sentences containing at least 3 characteristics

Points To Remember

1. You should begin this type of an activity with very familiar objects.
2. Use very obvious clues using language familiar to your child.
3. Remember -- your child will need lots of practice !!
4. Have a fun way for the child to identify the objects.

Method

This is a structured activity to help your child listen and understand key characteristics of familiar objects. The vocabulary for individual characteristics may already be familiar to your child. In this lesson, he needs to build his auditory memory to remember the characteristics and then associate them with the correct object.

Watch both the video clips for an example of an activity where the child uses magnets to pick up the object. Then follow the instructions given below.

1. Choose a set of 10 objects or pictures of objects in your house that are familiar to your child. Your child should be able to understand and use the name of the object. Try to pick objects that have really very different characteristics such as a ball, a fruit, etc., rather than two types of fruit, or two types of toys.
2. The very first time you do this activity, show the child each object, say three things about it, then leave it on the table where he can see it. Thereafter, begin by hiding the object, then talk about it, and finally place it on the table.
3. Repeat with 6 objects and leave all of them on the table.
4. To help the child understand the task, model it by asking a third person to listen and identify an object. Begin your sentence with “Find something that .................... “. If you don’t have a third person, you model it yourself by beginning your sentence with “I’m going to find something that ................................”.
5. Now, have your child listen and identify the object. If he is unable to do so, repeat the entire sentence again ( that is, don’t present the individual characteristics one by one. We want him to learn to process the entire sentence.) After two unsuccessful attempts, move on to another object.
6. Once your child has identified the object, remove it from the table and replace it with one of the unused objects. As usual, talk about it before placing it on the table. (This is so that there are enough objects remaining on the table for the child to choose from, without guessing).

Video Clips

CLIP 1





CLIP 2



Modifications

If your child seems to have a lot of trouble with this activity, use objects from his daily routine such as his toothbrush, shoes, etc. Spend several days talking about these items using their characteristics in natural contexts. For example, when it is time to brush his teeth, talk about his toothbrush -- “it has a handle, it feels rough, you use it to clean your teeth”

For children who begin learning to listen at age 3 or older, take pictures or draw pictures of the familiar objects, make into a book, and talk about them using their characteristics for at least a week or so (in a structured activity as well as in the natural context). Then do this activity. Objects the child uses everyday will be the easiest for him to begin with, while it may take him longer to learn and associate the characteristics of objects that are in the house but not used by him everyday.

What Next

1. Continue with different sets of objects until your child can identify at least 30 common objects around your house; the characteristics should include what an item is used for, what it looks like, what it tastes like, what it feels like, etc.
2. Expand this idea to additional vocabulary such as animals, vehicles, and toys that the child is familiar with.
3. You can move on to Lesson 303 when your child is identifying familiar items in the home a) based on 3 characteristics, b) out of a set of six to ten objects on the table, c) 80% of the time.