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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Printable Visual Discrimination Activities
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.
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.