How to Teach Shape Sorting to Children with Autism
To teach autistic children to sort shapes, educators often have them match pictures of black and white shapes. This practice reduces the likelihood that a child will play with the shapes or be distracted by their colors. Many educators also attempt to distinguish sorting difficulties from any difficulties inserting response cards into boxes. After a predetermined number of correct sorts, the child is given a desired object or activity.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Create a match-to-sample task using one sample and four identical response cards. The teacher points to the sample and tells the child to put all the cards that look like this into Box 1. With a square sample and square response cards, the child should put all the cards into Box 1.
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2
Repeat the task with one sample and two sets of response cards shuffled together to create one deck. The teacher points to the sample and tells the child to put all cards that look like this into Box 1 and cards that do not look like this into Box 2. If the sample is a square, and the response cards are squares and circles -- the child should put squares into Box 1 and other cards into Box 2.
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3
Repeat the preceding step using a circle rather than a square as the sample. The teacher points to the sample and tells the child to put all cards that look like this into Box 2 and cards that do not look like this into Box 1. If the sample is a circle and the response cards are again squares and circles, the child should put circles into Box 2 and the other cards into Box 1.
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4
Repeat the task using two samples and two sets of response cards. The teacher points to sample one and tells the child to put cards that look like this into Box 1; then points to sample two and tells the child to put cards that look like this into Box 2. If the two samples are a square and a circle, and the response cards are squares and circles -- the child should put squares into Box 1 and circles into Box 2.
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5
Repeat the preceding step using the same two samples and three sets of response cards -- for example, squares, circles and triangles. The teacher tells the child to put cards that do not look like either sample one or two into Box 3. The child should put squares into Box 1, circles into Box 2, and other cards into Box 3.
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6
Repeat the task using three samples and three sets of response cards. The child should put squares into Box 1, circles into Box 2, and triangles into Box 3.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Prior to each step, attach each sample to its respective box. Do not attach anything to boxes for "other" cards.
Initially dispense one response card at a time.
Related Searches
References
- "Education"; Challenging Young Children through Simple Sorting and Classifying; Donald L. Platz; Fall, 2004
- "Success Strategies for Teaching Kids with Autism"; Wendy Ashcroft, Ed.D., et al; 2010
- UNCschoolofmedicine: TEACCH Autism Program--Nonverbal Thinking, Communication, Imitation, and Play Skills with some Things to Remember
- Autismcymru: Learning to Play...Playing to Learn
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
