Matching Fruit

Did you know the first steps in problem solving is recognising similarities and differences (sorting) and grouping? When young children first start to group objects together the groups are usually very general (eg. all four legged creatures may be “dogs”). With more experience these groups are refined and become specific. Matching games are a great way to expand these skills.

What you need:

• 2 sheets of card
• 6 images, two of each (try searching online and printing off two copies of each picture)
• Velcro dots
• Glue
• Laminating machine(handy but not essential)

To make a matching board, line one sheet of cardboard with six squares (2 x 3).  Cut one set of pictures and glue in squares. If you have a laminating machine handy, you can laminate this sheet and put aside. On second sheet, glue pictures to card and then cut around the shape before laminating. Attach Velcro dots to the back of each cut-out image and to the images on the competed sheet.

You could also practice this skill by matching socks, sorting toys, putting away the shopping or setting the table.