Updated July 2023
Make sure your student or child with CVI has a variety of literacy materials this summer that are relevant and enticing. The Yellow Bucket and the Red Shovel is easy to make and can be adapted, depending on the color of bucket and shovel you happen to have and your student’s specific CVI needs.
This book may work well with students who:
- Visually function in high Phase II or Phase III on Dr. Roman’s CVI Range
- Are able to use simple, two-dimensional images
- Are working on identification of salient features
- Are working on the concepts “Same” and “Different”
- Are working on directional or positional concepts
Download a template and copy the shapes on brightly colored paper. Use black cardstock for the pages of your book to make the targets stand out, or “POP”.
For my student, I placed the words of the story on the back of the last page in the book. Since my student benefits from reduced visual complexity in the array, I didn’t want the story lines on each individual page.
Text of the story:
The red shovel is under the yellow bucket. Can you find it?
The red shovel is over the yellow bucket. Can you find it?
The red shovel is in the yellow bucket. Can you find it?
For my particular student, after much exploration and play with the 3D bucket and shovel, I encouraged him to visually locate and touch the red shovel on each page as I read the story.
In addition, prior to reading the book, we talked about the salient features of both the bucket and the shovel. When the book was introduced, the student was encouraged to identify those same salient features in the picture.
My student is also working towards a better understanding of directional concepts including “over”, “under”, and “in”. An optional activity might be to encourage the student to hold the shovel so that it points in the same direction as shown in the book.
This book could be expanded to include additional fun challenges, such as counting multiple buckets and/or shovels or possibly flip the bucket so that it is turned towards the left, right or even upside down. Consider adding a beach umbrella, if your student can tolerate the additional complexity. See my strategy to see website for additional ideas on literacy for students with CVI.Enjoy the summer! There are also lots more ideas from Diane on CVI and Literacy on Paths to Literacy!
