Practical teaching activities

Please choose and complete one or more of the following activities:

1. Making symbol-enhanced materials to support a topic

Create and print out a set of symbol-enhanced materials to support a topic you are teaching. For example worksheets, flashcards, or a game. Try them out and write a short review of their effectiveness. What were the most useful things about them? What could be improved?

2. Making books for pupils

Create and print a book containing pictures or photographs and symbol-enhanced text. This could be a communication book for a pupil, a story for older readers or a more accessible version of a published book. Try it out with your pupils. Write a short review outlining whom the book was for, how it was intended to enhance their skills and their response to it.

3. Making materials for story writing

Use a software package to create some paper-based games using pictures and symbols to stimulate creative writing / composing stories. Record these activities using a digital camera to make a presentation of the pupils’ work.

4. Story writing with sounds and images

Create a selection of images and sounds that a pupil can manipulate to engage in story writing or creative writing. This may involve sequencing photographs, or choosing key items in a story-weaving activity.

5. Making a book about school

Work with pupils to make a book about life at school. Use symbols, photographs and text to meet the needs and interests of a range of pupils. Complete the book to a standard suitable for addition to the school library.

6. Making a newspaper

Use symbol software, DTP or word-processing packages with a digital camera to create a class or school newspaper. Discuss how every member of the class might be involved.

7. Making a multimedia puzzle

Use an art package to manipulate images – drawings or photographs – then use them in a multimedia program to create a multimedia puzzle sequence to stimulate conversation and interaction.

8. Making materials to enable pupils to record their work

Use appropriate software to create a series of worksheets using pictures, symbols and words, which can be used by pupils to record. Make them in a variety of formats, both as paper-based materials and on screen, ensuring that all material is accessible using a range of different access methods.

9. Recording events

Use a scanner or digital camera and multimedia software to create a photo album of a visit or special event. Use a microphone to record pupils’ commentaries to go with the pictures. Make sure that the finished presentation is accessible to all pupils, including those who need to use switches.

10. Supporting talking stories

Create a set of resources to enhance a talking story for your pupils. These may include additional ‘props’ and ideas for creating switch access to the story, and paper-based materials, overlays and on-screen grids to extend their work on the story.

This ICTS website is maintained by Inclusive Technology.