Foundation Class 

Developing Oral Language in Prep with Barrier Games

Oral Language underpins the development of other language skills such as reading and writing. The last few weeks in Prep, we have been focusing on activities which continue to develop oral language skills. The students have been learning to manipulate and control language to suit their purpose. Barrier games are great oral language activities as they provide opportunity to develop skills for both speaking (composing) and listening (comprehension).

Barrier games can range from simple sequencing of coloured counters to giving lengthy instructions for locating objects in a detailed scene. This is completed with a barrier in between the two students so they can not see what each other are doing.

Some of the activities that the students took part in were:

My Room

One student was given Room 1 and the other student was given Room 2. They had to take turns to describe or ask questions about the scene to find where the differences were, e.g. “I can see a butterfly with spotted wings. Can you?” The students had to mark any differences they discover with the pencil. The barrier was then removed and the students had to compare scenes to check if any items were missed.

Toy Shop

The Prep students took turns to select a toy and place it on a toy shop shelf while giving directions to their friend so they could place the same toy in the same position, e.g. “Place the book on the top shelf closest to the left side.” Students continued until all the toys were placed or until both students had several turns at giving and receiving directions. The barrier was then removed and the toy shops were compared. The students enjoyed noting any differences that occurred.

Wolf Stew (Listen and Draw)

The Prep students took turns to draw something on the wolf scene and then gave directions so that their friend could draw an identical item in the same location. Ashton said, “Draw 3 orange carrots in the middle of the pot.” The barrier was then removed and the drawings were compared. 

Barrier games have been a fun, exciting and interactive approach to learning in the Prep classroom that incorporates language development and social skills. You just have to see the smiles on the Preps faces and hear the laughter after the barrier has been taken away to know that they have been having fun!