An excellent activity for quiz evenings using Widgit communication symbols
Awareness Raising
Can you guess the bands?
Can you see the whole picture?
Imagine what it's like to have all the pieces of information, but not know how it all pieces together.
Try a simple jigsaw puzzle - but without the finished picture to guide you.
How long does it take?
How frustrated could you get with more pieces?!
Can you sort it out?
What if you were receiving lots of information relating to two different items?
Could you separate it out to make sense?
What if it referred to more than two ideas?
Mix two similar jigsaw puzzles together in a box. Can you sort them out and complete the pictures?
Just a Taster!
Fancy a sandwich? Think it's such a simple task that you can do it with your eyes closed? Well then have a try....
How will you know where the edge of the bread is? Or what to put on it?
How will you make sure it's not something you are allergic to - like nuts?
With one hand behind your back?
Can you complete the sandwich task with one hand behind your back?
How can you open the jars? Or steady the bread?
You could try tying a shoelace or putting on socks this way too! How easy is it without practice?
With your eyes closed?
Here's a nice simple task...
Thread a needle - use one with a large eye and thick thread to help you.
What's the catch? Well you're not allowed to look!
What are the things you CAN do with your eyes closed?
Reach for it
You know how it feels when there's an itchy place on your back that you can't get to? Well try this one...
Get a friend to put a number of pegs on your clothing. You can take them off - the pegs that is. But you can only use the hand you don't usually use.
Which are the most awkward places? What's it like for things to be close, but just out of reach?
As simple as writing your name
Well try it - writing your name that is....
Oh, but not with your usual hand, or perhaps not with your hands at all...
Try it with your toes - what about any other part of you?
Have a drink on us
Ahhh.. but only if you can do it with your eyes closed..
That includes pouring it out too..
How will you know when it's near to the brim? How can you make sure you're not pouring it on the floor?
And what about when the jug is full and you can only use one hand - the one you don't usually use?
Easy on the eye
Have a look at the pieces of text on this page.. Assuming your audience can read...
Which is the 'friendliest' font style or size to use? What about the colours? And the paper?
Print out the page, try it with different combinations of coloured paper and ink.
Get a Grip
So you can write freely? Well what if your touch wasn't so sure? How about if your grip wasn't so firm?
Try writing your name again - this time wearing a mitten or grasping your writing tool in your fist.
Try some of these writing tools - which helps the most?
For more information:
Contact the Special Needs Team at Gilwell Park, 0845 300 1818, or special.needs@scout.org.uk.
