Animal Flash Cards: ABC
Camilla de la Bédoyère
QED Publishing
When I first became a classroom teacher, the use of flash cards was prevalent in the teaching of reading. I hated them (almost as much as I hate the current phonics obsession). So, I was not predisposed to think positively about this set of 20 cards. However, I am pleasantly surprised at what is within this inviting-looking box. Each card is a work of art, and in addition to allowing children to enjoy them for their own sake – I can assure you they will – I can think of a good many playful ways of using them.
One that comes immediately to mind is to ask users (a small group) to create a branching tree diagram. Indeed, there are many animal classification possibilities that may or may not involve reading the sentences on the reverse of the cards,

 

which can be used with children from around three. Having introduced them, try leaving a set strategically placed in an early years classroom, stand aside and see what ideas the children come up with. Assuredly there will be a lot of learning going on.
Back to the cards themselves. Most letters have a single card but Mm/Nn share one and are represented by mantis and newt. Similarly Qq/Rr – quetzal

now there’s a lovely name to add to your zoological vocabulary and racoon; Ss/Tt, Uu/Vv, Ww/Xx and Yy/Zz also have half a card each.
Animals great include dolphin, giraffe, panda, orangutan and yak, with frog and hedgehog among the small. Then there’s the spiny echidna – a fascinating egg laying, ant-eating mammal from Australia and New Guinea – and another exciting word to acquire perhaps.
Definitely an exciting resource to add to your early years or primary classroom and equally, fun to use at home.

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