Activity
Find All of the…
Teach students to select named objects through object discrimination skills and searching techniques.
This activity has been revised and was originally created by Charlotte Cushman and published in the Perkins Activity and Resource Guide (1st edition, 1992). The second edition is available for purchase.
Once students are able to select a named object from six to eight dissimilar objects, they are ready to work on classification skills. This activity teaches students to select named objects upon request, develop object discrimination skills, and increase their searching techniques. Lessons include English Language Arts, Math, and Independent Living Skills.
- APH work-play tray or other defined work surface
- Small box or container
- Assorted familiar objects, including at least ten of one object
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Present the student with ten identical objects on a tray which also has an assortment of ten dissimilar objects, e.g. ten metal spoons, one cup, one bell, one bar of soap, one key, one toothbrush, one shoe, one penny, one clock, one comb and one jar. - Mix the items up. Be sure to distribute the objects evenly around the tray.
- Ask the student to find all of the spoons, for example, and to put them in the container to the right of the tray.
- Be sure that she picks up just one item at a time and clearly identifies it before deciding if the object goes into the box of spoons or not.
- Encourage her to look all around the tray. Use positional terms, such as top, bottom, left, right, above, below, in back of. “Look under the sock and see if there is another spoon there.”
- It may help her to know how many items she is looking for. “There are only three spoons left to find.”
Present the student with ten identical objects on a tray which also has an assortment of ten dissimilar objects, e.g. ten metal spoons, one cup, one bell, one bar of soap, one key, one toothbrush, one shoe, one penny, one clock, one comb and one jar.- For some students, it may be easier to sort just two groups of objects so that each item has a definite place to go. They may be confused by leaving some items on the tray and putting others in a separate container. In that case, remove extra items after the student has examined them or proceed to “Matching Like Objects.”
- As the student becomes familiar with the activity, increase the difficulty by presenting items from the same category, such as coins, silverware or clothing. For example, put different coins on a tray and ask the student to find all of the dimes.
Hint: When sorting laundry, ask the student to find all of the socks. When doing dishes, ask her to find all of the forks.
