Talking Stick
Students take turns talking. Turn taking in this game
could be supported with the use of a “talking stick.”
Students can only say something when they are
holding the “talking stick.” Any object can be used for a
“talking stick.”
• My name is ... I like…. (Provide a category or allow
students to say anything).
• My name is Happy Helen. (Each group member
says a word that has the same beginning sound
as their name.)
• My favorite animal is… (This could be any
category.)
• My favorite animal is…because…
• Students will find out one thing about the person
sitting next to them and report back to the group.
When reporting back to the group, the students
take turns talking. This can be made easier by
specifying the question beforehand.
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Roll a Ball
This game can be played with one child or in a
small group.
In this game, the group members must look at the
person as they roll the ball. Using a ball that lights
up or has objects inside could support attention
while playing.
• Roll the ball to each other.
• Roll the ball to each other while saying, “I’m
rolling the ball to…”
• When the child receives the ball, they say, “My
name is…, and I like…”
• When the child receives the ball, they have
to name an animal, food item, mode of
transportation, etc.
• The adult gives the child an instruction while
playing. For example, roll the ball to someone
wearing blue.
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 Pass the Whisper Simon Says

Sit/stand in a circle or line. The adult whispers a Players take turns giving instructions.
message to the first group member.

If the player starts the sentence by saying, “Simon

The group members go around the circle or down the says…”(followed by an action), the group must follow
line each whispering the message to the next person. the instruction.

The last group member to receive the message, If the player starts the sentence without saying “Simon
says the message aloud. Take turns being the last says,” the group should not perform the action.
group member.

Provide support for this game with pictures of

Extend the activity by passing an instruction the last instructions, when necessary.
group member must complete.

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 Listening Stories Listening Walk
and Songs

Give each group member an object or picture relating Take the group on a listening walk.
to a word in a story. When they hear their words while
listening to the story, they stand up.
Walk around the school, playground, or park, and listen
for sounds.
This could also be played with songs and nursery
rhymes, such as “Old MacDonald.”
The group can report on the sounds they hear.

Extend the game by providing group members words

to listen for without providing pictures or objects. You could also provide listening sheets for students to
listen for certain sounds.

Alternatively, ask the group to close their eyes and

listen for one minute while inside. They can share
the sounds they hear such as shoes shuffling or
traffic noise.

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 Everybody Do This
Sing the song, “Everybody do this, do this, do this,
everybody do this, just like me.” While singing, the
teacher completes an action such as clapping
their hands.
The movement is copied by the group. The group
members can take turns thinking of actions
to complete.
This game can be made easier with the support of
pictures to show the movements.
Extend the game by giving more complex instructions
such as, “Touch your nose and then touch the floor.”
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Matching Videos
Record the voices of people familiar to the group
members such as family, friends, teachers, etc.
Play the recording to the group, and allow the group to
guess each person’s voice. This can be supported by
having pictures of the people on the recording.
Make the activity more challenging by having the
people say a longer sentence or phrase.
Make the activity less challenging by having the people
say a shorter sentence or phrase.
This could also be done with one group member
facing away from the group. The group members take
turns talking and the member facing away tries to
guess the voices.
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 Blinking Bandit Pass the Look

This is a good game to play to practice eye contact.
Everyone sits in a circle facing each other. One player
is chosen to be the “bandit.”
One group member begins by looking into the eyes of
the person next to them. In order to receive “the look,”
eye contact is needed.
The “look” is passed around the group.

The bandit blinks or winks at another child, putting

them to sleep. The other child pretends to fall asleep. Extend the game by passing the “look” across
The rest of the group tries to identify the bandit. the group.

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