Near and Far
Near and Far
Today pictures of a teddy, tree, and adult introduce near and far as relationships to a reference point. We also practise staying close to a caregiver when out.
Today's Approach
Amara is about 2 years and 5 months old. Keep each activity to 3–8 minutes. Looking, pointing, moving a hand closer, saying one word, or declining all count. “Far” is explored in pictures and gestures; she never needs to move away from an adult to prove understanding.
A4 Teaching Picture
Open the original image to download or print
How to use it
Print in colour on portrait A4 paper with “Fit to page” selected, or display it full-screen. Say who is near or far from what rather than asking only “Which is near?” This gives the distance a reference point.
Goals
- Chinese: meet 小熊, 树, 大人, 近, 远, and 靠近.
- English: meet
teddy,tree,adult,near,far, andstay close. - Cognition: compare two pictured positions and begin to understand a reference relationship.
- Early maths: count one house, two trees, and three birds with one-to-one pointing.
- Safety: connect
stay closewith a trusted caregiver, not an unfamiliar adult.
Materials
- Only the A4 teaching picture above, printed or displayed full-screen.
- The gesture activity can be done while seated; no walking away is needed.
1. Chinese Picture Talk
Time: 5–8 minutes.
Use short but complete relationship statements:
- “小熊离孩子近。”
- “树离孩子远一些。”
- “外出时，孩子靠近照顾自己的大人。”
Then invite a point:
- “小熊在哪里？”
- “谁离孩子更近？”
- “外出时要靠近谁？”
If perspective makes the distance unclear, do not quiz. Trace the distance in the picture with a finger.
2. English Time
Time: 3–5 minutes.
| Chunk | Meaning | Possible response |
|---|---|---|
teddy | 小熊 | Point to the teddy |
tree | 树 | Point to the tree |
adult | 大人 | Point to the caregiver picture |
near | 近 | Bring two hands closer |
far | 远 | Move two hands a little apart |
Stay close. | 靠近照护者 | Return one hand beside the adult’s |
Use Teddy is near., The tree is far., and Stay close to your adult. A full prepositional sentence is not expected.
3. Early Maths: Bottom-Row Quantities
Time: 3–5 minutes.
- 1 house:
one house. - 2 trees: touch each tree and say
two trees. - 3 birds: touch each bird and say
three birds.
Count only the main objects in each bottom card. Model one number for one object without testing numeral names.
4. Gesture Game: Near, Far, Return
Time: 3–5 minutes, seated together:
- Hold two hands a little apart:
far. - Bring them slowly together:
near. - Let one hand represent the child and one the caregiver.
- Say
Stay closeand return the “child hand” beside the “caregiver hand.”
Amara may watch or place her own hand near yours. Hand-holding or body contact is not required.
Outdoor Safety
“Stay close to an adult” means the familiar, trusted adult responsible for Amara at that time—not any unfamiliar adult. Never practise far by hiding, running away, or walking out of a door alone. The adult remains responsible for supervision and safe physical guidance in public.
5. Everyday Observation and Life Skills
Describe a natural scene: “The cup is near me; the door is farther away.” Before going out, repeat, “We keep each other in sight. Stay close.” If Amara does not want to hold hands, the adult still chooses a safe form of supervision for the setting.
Bedtime Recall
- “谁离小熊近？”
- “树看起来近还是远？”
- “外出时我们怎样待在一起？”
Near or far?
Choose only one or two prompts; she does not need to recite a safety rule.