Valentine Visual Discrimination Activity (+Printable)

valentine matching

One of the strongest predictors of future reading success is letter identification.

To successfully identify letters children need to have strong Visual discrimination skills.

This printable heart visual discrimination activity is perfect for Valentine’s Day in your preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten classroom.

Printable Valentine visual discrimination activity

What Are Visual Discrimination Skills?

Visual discrimination activities are commonly referred to as “same and different.” Visual discrimination is the ability to recognize differences. Such as details in visual images, such as letters and numbers.

When first beginning to identify letters, many young children become easily confused by letters that look alike.

Confusing letters that share similar characteristics, such as lowercase b and p, is normal.

Letter confusion is an indicator that the child needs more practice learning how to visually discriminate letters.

Activities that require children to closely look at pictures to identify the similarities and differences will help them develop strong visual discrimination skills.

Young children who have well developed visual discrimination skills will be able to fluently identify letters and numbers.

Why is Visual Discrimination Important?

When children have strong visual discrimination skills they can identify the similarities and differences in letters, Letters like b and d or x and y. They can also tell the subtle differences between letters and numbers.

Young children in preschool and kindergarten need to have good visual discrimination skills to begin identifying letters and numbers by name.

Teaching visual discrimination skills is all about helping children pay attention to detail.

Visual discrimination skills will help children begin to notice the similarities and differences in letters like b and d or x and y. These are the same skills used for classifying.

Check out this research-based, playful learning unit in our curriculum shop!

Ultimate Valentine Bundle for Pre-K
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The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Lesson Plan Bundle

20 of our most popular Valentine's Day resources, including math, literacy, and fine motor activities! Make learning hands-on and fun!

Supplies Needed

Small objects can be used to mark the pictures that are the same on each task card.

If your children put small objects in their mouths then this activity is too advanced for them and their time would be better spent on other activities.

Valentine visual discrimination activity

Heart Visual Discrimination Activity

This activity was designed for use in small groups.  You don’t need to print too many cards or buy lots of manipulatives.

To prepare the heart visual discrimination activity, first, print the heart task cards on cardstock. You want one for each child in your small group.

Each page contains two different task cards, laminate the cards for durability and cut in half.

Next, place a basket or container of small objects like Unifix cubes, bingo chips, or flat floral marbles in the middle of your small group area so all the children can easily reach them.

To make this activity successful, first demonstrate how to look carefully at each card and locate the two hearts that are the same. Then, show the children how to place one object on top of each of the hearts that are the same on their card.

Ask children to describe the heart pictures on their task cards to develop oral language and critical thinking skills.

Valentine Visual Discrimination Activity for Preschoolers

Heart Visual Discrimination Activity Directions

Start by giving one heart task card to each child in your small group. Invite the children to locate the two hearts that are the same and place one object on top of each image that is the same.

Invite the children to trade heart cards with a friend after they have identified and marked the images, and checked with an adult. This is a quick activity for some and they may need a reminder about what to do when they’re done.

Another idea is to make an entire set of cards for each child in your small group. Hole punch each set of cards in the upper left corner and place the cards on a book ring to create individual booklets. When a child finishes a card he or she can turn the page in the booklet.

Heart Same or Different Printable

Printable Visual Discrimination Activities

Apple Visual Discrimination- 

This apple printable fits nicely with a fall theme and will help young children in preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten develop those tricky visual discrimination skills.

Halloween Visual Discrimination

This Halloween visual discrimination activity will be enjoyed by your children in pre-k and kindergarten when they visually discriminate the different pumpkins and candy corns!

Thanksgiving Visual Discrimination

In this visual discrimination activity, your students will discriminate between the differently colored turkeys and Pilgrim hats.

Gingerbread Visual Discrimination

Young children in preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten will enjoy this Gingerbread visual discrimination activity where they distinguish the different colored Gingerbread.

Mitten Visual Discrimination

These mitten visual discrimination task cards are perfect for a winter theme in your preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten classroom.

More Valentine’s Day Ideas

Valentine’s Cookie Decorating Sequencing

This cookie decorating activity is perfect for helping young children learn how to sequence. You can use this Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating activity at home or in your preschool classroom for a Valentine’s Day party.

To have the printable cookie sequence sheet emailed to you, simply fill out the form below.