Language for Living

Communication Activities for Young Adults with Learning Difficulties

Catherine Delamain

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781138048140
• eBook ISBN: 9781351688727
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

This title features communication activities for young adults with learning difficulties. This unique collection of 180 enjoyable group activities aims to foster both the skills underlying communication, such as body language and awareness of others, and aspects of spoken language itself. The activities fall broadly within the Entry Levels 1-3 of the Skills for Life Core Curriculum, but can be used as a completely independent programme. The book addresses the needs of students with very varied skill levels, and includes some activities which can be used with non-verbal students. "Language for Living" has the following advantages: no formal assessment necessary; equipment not required or kept to a minimum; activities can be freely adapted to suit students' lifestyles and experience; activities are simple to organise, and easy to fit in to the daily programme of college, day or residential settings; photocopiable resource section; and downloadable resources for optional record-keeping and printable resources.

Personal and social development

Turn taking

Step 1 Musical cap Karaoke Group bingo Buzzer Drum roll

Step 2 My favourite! Jenga Number beat Slide show Over to you

Step 3 Mystery bag Maybe, maybe not In the fridge Celebrity match Mobile match

Step 4 My name is … Keep talking! Mobile match (2) Our day Lucky ticket

Turn taking Step 1

Musical cap

Aim

To be able to respond to musical cues

Equipment

A baseball cap – choose one with a humorous logo

A music player and suitable music

What to do

Students sit in a circle. Explain that they must pass the cap to the next person while the music is playing. When it stops the person with the cap puts it on. When the music starts again the student removes the cap and passes it on. You could appoint a student to operate the music.

Karaoke

Aim

To be able to respond to musical cues

Equipment

A music player and students’ choice of music

A microphone

What to do

Students sit in a semicircle. Explain that they must pass the microphone round while the music is playing. When it stops the student with the microphone has to say their name out loud. When the music starts again the student passes the microphone on.

Extension

Instead of saying their name students could name a favourite band/celebrity/food etc.

Group bingo

Aim

To be able to take turns in a cooperative activity

Equipment

A bingo board and matching individual pictures

A bag or box

What to do

Put the pictures in the bag or box. Put the board on the table. Explain that students will take turns to draw a picture from the bag and place it on the board, then pass the bag to the next student. Continue until all the pictures have been placed on the board.

Buzzer

Aim

To be able to take turns in a structured activity

Equipment

A buzzer, whistle or bell

An object to pass round

What to do

Everyone sits in a circle. One student volunteers to start. Give them the object. When you sound the buzzer they must walk round the outside of the circle. When the buzzer sounds again they must stop, pass the object to the next student and return to their seat. The next student waits until you sound the buzzer before taking their turn to walk round the circle. Continue in this way until all students have had a turn.

Extension

You can vary the activity by asking students to do different actions, such as hand clapping or filling a container with small items such as pieces of dried pasta.

Drum roll

Aim

To be able to take turns in a small group

Equipment

Any kind of drum and drumsticks

What to do

Choose a student to start. They can play the drum in any way they like until you call ‘All change!’ Their turn is then finished and they pass the drum to another student. Continue like this until all students have had a go at playing the drum.

Extension

You could vary the activity by using a different instrument such as a guitar. Alternatively, you could give each student an instrument, which they then swap when you call ‘All change!’

Turn taking Step 2

My favourite!

Aim

To be able to take turns in a speaking activity

Equipment

An object, eg a microphone, to pass round the circle A music player

What to do

Students sit in a semicircle. Put the music on and ask them to pass the microphone round. When the music stops the student holding the microphone names their favourite food. Restart the music and repeat the process.

Extension

Choose different categories, eg sport, TV programmes, celebrities, films, bands.

Jenga

Aim

To be able to allow other people a turn

Equipment

The tower-building game Jenga^®

Each student’s name on a small slip of paper

A box or bag

What to do

Put the name slips in the bag. The first student pulls out a name and reads it out with help from a learning supporter. They then give the slip to its owner who starts the Jenga tower. That student then takes a slip from the box and so on until all the names have been used.

Number beat

Aim

To be able to take turns to clap the numbers on a dice

Equipment

A giant dice – this can be adapted if you need to work with very low numbers

What...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Personal and social development
• Language and communication
• Resources
• Record sheets