Activity
What Are You Wearing?
Encourage socialization and concept development with these conversation starters!
This activity has been revised and was originally created by Charlotte Cushman and published in the Perkins Activity and Resource Guide (1st edition, 1992). The second edition is available for purchase.
This activity is useful both for teaching students to name articles of clothing, as well as improving their use of descriptive language. Lessons include English Language Arts, Early Cognitive Skills/Concept Development, and Independent Living.
Materials
Students’ own clothing
Procedure
- Students should take turns asking each other what they are wearing. Answers can be as simple or as complex as is appropriate for each individual. For example, one student may only be able to name major items of clothing, such as pants, shirt, or shoes. Other students may be able to describe what they are wearing using some of the following descriptions:
- Color
- Fabric (corduroy, denim, wool, etc.)
- Type of fasteners (buttons, snaps, zippers)
- Number of concepts (number of buttons, pockets)
- Length (long or short sleeves, or hemline)
- Function (boots because it’s raining)
- After everyone has had a chance to tell the group what they are wearing, ask questions such as, “Who is wearing sneakers today?”, “Who is wearing corduroy pants?”, “Who has two pockets?”
- Have students describe what another student is wearing.
- Dress a doll or a flannel board character – discuss what the doll could wear and why.
Hint: Talk to students about what they are wearing when they are getting dressed. Let them figure out what they should put on first, what is appropriate for the weather or the activity.
