Visual Discrimination Worksheets FREE PDF
These two free visual discrimination worksheets PDF are a fun and creative way to practice these skills. You can simply print the activity, provide pencils, and your students can start solving for the mystery words or mystery dance moves! You can download the PDF for free at the bottom of this blogpost.
Visual Discrimination Puzzles
WHAT SKILLS ARE STUDENTS WORKING ON WITH THE VISUAL DISCRIMINATION WORKSHEETS?
This free printable helps kids work on the following skills:
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
- Handwriting
- Visual discrimination skills
- Visual scanning skills
- Motor planning
- Body awareness
- Coordination
Wow! That is a lot of skills with two worksheets!
HOW DO YOU COMPLETE THIS ACTIVITY?
Directions for Puzzle 1: Directions: Cross out any letters that are repeated more than once. When done, write any letters that are left in the spaces below to find out the mystery word.
Directions for Puzzle 2: Cross out any pictures that are the same. The pictures includes various exercises: clap, wave, fist pumps, wiggle toes, stomp feet, and shake your body. When done, use the code below to perform the mystery dance.
HOW TO GET ACCESS TO THE FREE VISUAL DISCRIMINATION WORKSHEETS
All you need to do is follow these three steps to access the printable page for elementary students, middle school students, and homeschool students:
- Click on the link at the bottom of the page.
- You will be redirected to download the PDF format file of the printable activity.
- Print or screen share the activity.
OTHER WAYS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY
Here are a few options to modify or differentiate when you use the visual discrimination worksheets:
- Print on cardstock paper and laminate it. Use wipe-off markers to write on the free printable.
- Mark up the PDF if you do not want to print it.
- Make it easier by: crossing off a few of the matching letters to start so the students understand the directions.
- Make it more difficult by: instead of crossing out matching letters have your students rainbow write over the letters. For example, trace over matching letters in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple colored pencils.
- Add in physical activity by: practicing each of the dance moves whether they are in the mystery dance or not. Turn on music. Can you students invent a new synchronized dance that the whole class can do together using any of the dance moves.
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WHY ARE THESE SKILLS IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN TO PRACTICE WITH THIS FREE PRINTABLE?
Here are more details about this free visual discrimination worksheets printable and why the skills are important to practice.
FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Fine motor skills refer to the ability to control small muscles in the hands and fingers. For example in this activity, the children have to: hold a pencil to complete the worksheet.
Fine motor skills develop throughout childhood and continue to improve into adulthood. They are important for activities such as writing, typing, cooking, and using other tools. There are many ways to improve fine motor skills, including occupational therapy, targeted exercises, and adaptive devices. Get more fine motor activity ideas.
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
Gross motor skills are the ability to use large muscles to complete tasks. Examples of gross motor skills include walking, running, jumping, climbing, and throwing.
For example, in this activity, the children have to: be able to complete the dance moves.
These skills develop during childhood and continue to improve into adolescence. Gross motor skills are important for daily living activities, such as getting dressed or going up and down stairs. They also play a role in sports and other recreational activities. gross motor skills can be difficult for some children to develop. However, there are many resources and activities available to help those who struggle. Physical therapists can assess gross motor skills and provide strategies for improvement. With practice and guidance, gross motor skills can be improved as children grow and develop. Get more gross motor activity ideas.
VISUAL MOTOR SKILLS
Visual motor skills are the ability to use information from our visual system to guide our motor system. This can include skills such as catching a ball, writing, drawing, and cutting with scissors. Visual motor skills involve the coordination of both large and small muscles.
For example, in this activity the children have to: find and cross off the matching letters or dance moves.
Additionally, visual motor skills develop over time – infants and toddlers typically have poorer visual motor skills than school-aged children or adults.There are many ways to improve visual motor skills, such as by playing sports, engaging in crafts, or participating in other activities that require coordination and fine motor skills. Anyone can benefit from improving their visual motor skills! Get more visual motor activity ideas.
VISUAL SCANNING SKILLS
Visual scanning skills refer to the ability to look at a visual display and take in the information quickly and efficiently. This can be useful in a variety of settings, from reading a book to finding a specific item in a store.
For example, in this activity children have to: scan the paper for the matching letters and dance moves.
There are a few key things that can help improve visual scanning skills. First, it is important to learn how to focus and maintain attention on the task at hand. Second, it can be helpful to practice “chunking” information, which means breaking down a visual display into smaller pieces and taking them in one at a time. Practicing visual scanning can help you to be able to quickly process information and make decisions based on what is seen. With some practice, visual scanning skills can be improved, making it easier to locate specific visual information. Read more about visual scanning activities.
MOTOR PLANNING SKILLS
Motor planning skills are the ability to plan and execute motor tasks. This includes the ability to come up with a motor plan, carry out the motor plan, and monitor the motor task.
For example, in this activity the children have to: figure out which dance moves go in what order and complete the dance.
Motor planning skills are important for everyday activities such as getting dressed, brushing teeth, and cooking meals. Motor planning skills can be affected by many different factors, including ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing disorder, and cerebral palsy. There are many different ways to help develop and improve motor planning skills. Some interventions that can be used to help develop motor planning skills include occupational therapy and physical therapy. Read more on practicing motor planning.
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BODY AWARENESS
Body awareness is the ability to sense and be aware of the body in space. This includes the ability to feel where the body is in relation to the surrounding environment and to maintain a sense of balance. Body awareness is important for everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and reaching for objects. It is also important for more complex activities such as dance and martial arts.
For this activity, the children are: practicing moving their body in different ways.
People with poor body awareness may have difficulty with coordination and balance. They may also have trouble knowing where their body parts are in space, which can lead to clumsiness. There are various exercises that can help to improve body awareness, such as yoga and coordination exercises. Improving body awareness can help to improve coordination, balance, and flexibility. Read more about body awareness.
HANDWRITING
Handwriting is still an important skill especially important for young children, who are still developing their ability to form letters and fine motor skills. Handwriting can also help to boost memory and concentration. It is a wonderful form of self-expression.
In the activity, the children are working on the following aspects of handwriting: writing the letters at the bottom of the mystery word page.
Whether you are writing a letter to a friend, filling out a job application, or keeping a journal, your handwriting says something about who you are. Check out all these handwriting resources.
VISUAL DISCRIMINATION SKILLS
Visual discrimination skills are the ability to see visual differences between similar objects. For example, in simple terms being able to tell the difference between a circle and a square. These skills develop throughout childhood and continue to improve into adulthood. Visual discrimination skills are important for many everyday activities such as reading, writing, and driving. They can also help with problem-solving and critical thinking.
For example, in this activity the children are working on: determining which letters match regardless of the different fonts.
Read more about visual discrimination skills.
WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO USE THE VISUAL DISCRIMINATION WORKSHEETS FREEBIE?
The free printable is great to use for:
- Fine Motor stations
- Gross Motor stations
- Indoor recess
- Brain breaks
- Early finishers
- Occupational Therapy Session
- Physical Therapy Session
- Carry over activities at home
- School breaks
- Anytime kids need some extra motor skill practice!
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY OF THE VISUAL DISCRIMINATION WORKSHEETS HERE
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