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
40 clear and captivating cards
To keep your student engaged10 pairs of opposites
That are relevant to everyday lifeA clear label on the reverse side of each card
So you’ll stay on track with your teachingA step by step activity guide that’s easy to use
Encouraging you to use the cards in many ways
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
A step by step activities guide is included
That gives focus and direction to your lessonsThe activities are listed in order of complexity
Starting with the easy ones will foster a feeling of successSuitable for early through to more advanced learners
So the way you use the cards can evolve as your student progressesThere are a variety of touching, sorting and saying activities
This variety adds interest and will deepen your student’s understanding of nounsThere are suggestions for how to generalise to everyday life
The greatest success comes with integrating the lessons learned into day to day living
Activity Examples
Two activity examples are described below.
- Matching
Saying
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.
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.
What our valued customers say
Frequently Asked Questions
The label (which is often called the teaching concept) is written on the reverse side of each card. For example, if the teaching concept is ‘wet’, then the word ‘wet’ appears on the reverse side of the card. Beneath the word ‘wet’ is the word ‘dry’ (in brackets and italics) which explains that the opposite of ‘wet’ is ‘dry’.
The intention of having two pairs is to consolidate a student’s understanding of opposites. A second example serves to build on a student’s understanding of the first example.
Absolutely! You don’t need to be a qualified teacher to use these flashcards. Many parents and grandparents have provided us with positive feedback about using these cards. And the step by step guide included in the set suggests a range of activities which are suitable for very early through to more advanced learners.