
Why Teach Opposites?
Teaching your student about opposites helps build their observation and analytical skills. It also expands their vocabulary, helping them to comprehend, retain and convey information.
Understanding opposites is a prerequisite for more advanced literacy and numeracy skills such as giving instructions and differentiating between large and small numbers.
Opposites Flashcards
What’s included


Teaching Targets
There are 10 pairs of opposites included in this set and there are 4 images for each pair (eg 2 dirty and 2 clean images)
These categories are relevant to everyday life:
big/small
long/short
dirty/clean
empty/full
wet/dry
many/few
open/closed
front/back
high/low
on/off
Teaching Support

Activity Examples
Two activity examples are described below.
About
This is a simple activity that requires the student to match an a pair of opposite flashcards when asked to do so.
How to
Place 4 cards on the table.
Example: a dirty, small, open and many card
Hand the student a card that is the opposite to one of the cards on the table and ask the student to ” Match the opposite cards.”
The student is expected to match the ‘big’ card that has been handed to them with the ‘small’ card on the table.
Prompting for success
If the student is struggling, gently guide their hand to match the card they are holding with the correct card on the table and state the name of the pair (Say “Small is opposite to big”)
About
This is a simple activity that requires the student to name the opposite of a pair.
How to
Show the student a card and ask them to name its opposite.
Example: Show a set of dirty boots and ask “What is the opposite to dirty?”
The student is expected to say “Clean.”
Prompting for success
If the student is struggling, gently provide them with the required response (Say “Clean”) and then ask them the same question. This time, wait for the student to respond to the question.

Free Download: Flashcard Activity Guides
Take the guess work out of how to use the cards by following our activity guides. With simple, step-by-step advice and helpful pictures, they’ve been designed so that you get the most out of the cards and out of each lesson with your student. Feel purposeful, organised and confident whilst you teach.
Opposites buying options
Purchase the Opposites Flashcards separately or as part of a larger language pack.
Opposites Flashcards
Our single set option. There are 40 Opposites cards in a single box. For a list of the 10 pairs of opposites click here.
Language Flashcard Library
Our eight sets in one box option. The eight sets are Opposites, Categories, Go Togethers, Emotions Vol 1 and 2, Prepositions and Verbs Vol 1 and 2. Purchase this set and our Nouns Set to buy our entire range.
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