WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT?

The print/materials you see on a sign, label, logo, website, in the community…etc.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Reading environmental print is part of our daily routine, it’s an essential life skill.  Being able to read and comprehend what is on the given environmental print helps us live more independently.  It helps us make safe and enjoyable choices (eg. Ordering food) or prevents negative consequences (eg. Past due utility bill).

HOW DO I FIND FREE ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT?

Finding environment print is pretty easy!  You can easily find tons with a quick Google Search, items that you receive in the mail (eg. utility bill), or while in the community (eg. to-go menu).

ACTIVITY IDEAS (TO USE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT)

You can implement many of these ideas by simply printing out a copy for each student (if you find on Google Search), doing small groups if you don’t have many copies (eg. to-go menu), or display on your smart board (you can scan or take a picture of the item of focus).

• Reading comprehension – ask students to identify various parts or vocabulary on the environmental print.
• Math – depending on the environmental print, students might be able to practice addition/subtractions/multiplication, taxes/tip, comparison, measurements, more/less and more.
• Prepositions & Conjunctions – above, below, until, before, since…etc.
• Articulation & fluency
• Making choices
• Planning ahead/making a list
• Problem-solving or making inferences – Eg. Using a weather forecast to ask which day to wear something warm
• Health and safety  – eg. Allergy symbols or ingredients
• Class discussion
• Pair with a CBI (community-based instruction)
• Pair with a cooking lesson

You might like these activities to supplement your lessons:

ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT IDEAS:

When it comes to teaching environmental print comprehension, the best part is that because these are things in our everyday lives, there are many FREE materials you can use to supplement your lessons and activities. I’ve compiled a list of ideas for you to use – you’ll very quickly come to realize “oh duh, why didn’t I think of that”.

• weather forecast
• to-go menus
• calendars
• grocery or department store ads
• online recipes
• nutrition labels (on food containers)
• schedules (eg. sports team game schedule or train schedule)
• directory
• utility bills (be sure to white out your personal info)
• advertisements
• receipts
• job listings
• thermometer
• clothing tags (size, price, laundry directions…etc)
• business listings or product reviews
• Forms (eg. Job application)
• Email
• Websites

Some environmental print might contain sensitive or personal information that you don’t want to show to your student (eg. a paystub or invitation). For this reason, I have created differentiated worksheets with these items containing fake information so that students can practice the concept in the given format, without viewing anyone’s personal and confidential information. You can check out a FREE sample version below as well as the money-saving bundle of over 20 sets:

Thanks for reading!

You might also enjoy: