Setting up a Language & Listening Group
Basic set up
 Keep it short and fun – 5-10 minutes max
 Only have 3 or 4 children at once
 Use a quiet room or space wherever possible
 Make it clear where children should sit eg mats, cushions, chairs etc
 Use gestures/Makaton signs, visual cues and props throughout
including Makaton symbols for each activity
 Set up a simple way of planning what to do and keeping a record of
children’s responses
Basic structure
1.
Hello Song (to the tune of Skip to my Lou)
Hello everyone, how are you?
Hello everyone, how are you?
Hello everyone, how are you?
How are you to-day?
2.
Who is here today? song (to the tune of Skip to my Lou)
Who is here today?
Who is here today?
Who is here today?
Let’s have a look and see.
Use photos/name cards to identify who is here. Take turn to pull out
each card, children listening for their/friend’s name. Cards can be
posted in box.
3.
Choose a song/rhyme
Use song cards or objects (3 or 4) to help prompt children to make a
choice. Repetition of songs with signs/gestures help children to join
in/fill gaps/predict next word or phrase etc. Limit number of songs
per session.
4.
Play a game
 Only one game per session
 Repeat activity over a few sessions to give children opportunity to
practice, learn and then confidence to do it)
 Activity needs to be short, interactive and with visual hands on
props eg Pop up Pirates, Greedy Gorilla, Shark Attack or one
activity based on the areas below. Activity ideas given on separate
sheet or see Letters & Sounds Phase 1
Listening and attention
Comprehension
Expression
5.
Well done song (to the tune of Nice one Cyril)
Well done everyone
Well done everyone
Well done everyone
It’s time to go and play!
Language Group weekly plan
Week beginning:
Member of staff:
Morning session children:
Afternoon session children:
1. Hello Song
2. Who is here today?
3. Choose a song from the choosing board
4. Game:
 Equipment needed:
 Instructions for game:
5. Well done song
Language group recording
Date:
Please circle how the children participated
I – independent
P – prompt (write comment on how you prompted)
Child
Came to group
Chose a song
Played game/
Took turns
Comment
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
I
P
Recording Child’s progress in Language Group
Child’s Name:
Week
beginning
Comments/examples
Language Group Activity Ideas
Attention & Listening:
 Animal noises on tape – match to picture or toy animals or children to
pull out animal from bag and name/make appropriate noise
 Match musical instruments (pairs of instruments)
 Match everyday objects that make a noise – pairs of objects eg keys,
spoons in a pan etc
 Take turns to put marble/car down a run on cue – ready, steady, go!
 Puppet says ‘Stand up’, ‘clap hands’ etc – children to take turns
 Pass the bag, stop when music stops – child takes out eg toy, musical
instrument
 Pass shaker, big bunch of keys etc without making a noise
 Copying sounds – musical instruments, beats of drum, rhythm sticks
Comprehension
 Use set of 5 or 6 objects or toys (may be linked to category), make sure
children know what they are. Ask children in turn to find 1 or 2 specific
items to put into box, bag etc
 Body parts – using teddy/doll, ask child to point to hand, ears, eyes etc.
 Verbs – using puppets or toys ask children to make teddy sleep, give the
puppet a drink, can baby jump etc
 Big and little – have a selection of big and little objects, ask the child to
give you the big teddy, little cup etc
 Tea party: doll, teddy, pretend food. Ask children to give teddy a cake,
dolly a drink etc
 Pictures of objects/verbs etc – ask child to find the _______ and post it
in postbox
 Teddy/doll and items of clothing eg hat, gloves etc – ask children to put
the hat on teddy etc
 Spider/bee/butterfly/plastic flower/leaf – ask children to put the spider
on the flower etc (could use different toys and locations!)
 Prepositions – in, on or under – ask child to put toy in a box, under a
table, on a box etc.
Expression
 Feely bag games: selection of items in bag, children take turns to take
something out of the bag and are encouraged to label and talk about it.
Keep items in categories if possible eg farm animals, every day objects,
objects from seaside etc.
 Lotto games: large pictures (up to 6). Cards in bag, get child to label and
talk about it. Home made lotto games are great and can focus on
children’s interests eg food they like etc.
 Pictures of objects, verbs etc: put paper clip on each and have a fishing
rod with a magnet. Children take turns to catch a picture and tell you
about it.
 Things that go together cards/objects: get children to label, match and
talk about items
 Treasure in the sand – hide some toys in a sandbox, ask each child to
find a toy, name it and talk about it
 Comprehension tasks can be made into expression tasks by getting child
to tell you or a peer what to do!