FM.I.77 MATCHES OBJECTS TO PICTURES, CHOICE OF 2

Now your child can begin to explore the connection between things he sees in pictures and things he sees in ‘real life’. That picture in the book is a cow, and so are those big animals out in the paddock. This is a very important discovery, one which will help him to learn more from pictures.

How to Assess

Materials: 2 clear pictures, about 10 cm square, of familiar objects. An object corresponding to each picture. For example, a picture of a cup and a cup from a child’s tea-set; a picture of a dog and a small toy dog. Ladybird picture books are a good source of pictures.

Method: Put the pictures on the table in front of your child. Say ‘Look, I can put the . . . on the . . .’. Demonstrate. Give the object to your child and say ‘Put the . . . on the . . .’. Give 2 tries for each object, alternating them and changing the positions of the pictures halfway through.

Score plus if your child puts the objects on the corresponding picture in 3 out of the 4 tries, without physical or verbal help.

How to Teach

Follow the method described for FM.I.60, varying your materials as you teach.

As well as putting the objects on the pictures, your child can put the pictures on or with the objects.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

If your child has a favourite picture book, collect as many objects as you can find that correspond to pictures in the book. As you read the book together, you can produce the corresponding objects and point out that they are the same. As your child gets the idea you could show him 2 objects at a time and ask him which one goes with the picture.

As with FM.I.60 talk about the sameness between pictures and objects whenever opportunities occur.

Remembering and Extending

This skill will be directly extended by FM.I.80.

As well as continuing with this sequence, you can begin work on Sequence FM.J, which introduces the pre- academic skill areas of colour, shape and size.