Action Words Wall Cards Instruction Words Word Wall - Print & Cut Page 1 of 3
Instruction Word
ANALYZE
🔍
What it means
To look very closely at something to learn more about it.
Everyday Life
Checking a Food Label
You analyze the ingredient list on a cereal box to check for allergens like peanuts before eating it.
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Instruction Word
COMPARE
⚖️
What it means
To find how two or more things are the same .
Everyday Life
Choosing Shoes
You compare two pairs of running shoes to see which ones are the same size and comfort level.
Instruction Words Word Wall - Print & Cut Page 2 of 3
Instruction Word
CONTRAST
🌗
What it means
To find how two or more things are different .
Everyday Life
Setting Water Temperature
You contrast the hot water tap (red label) and the cold water tap (blue label) so you do not burn your hands.
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Instruction Word
SEQUENCE
🔢
What it means
To put things or do things in the correct order (step-by-step).
Everyday Life
Following a Recipe
You sequence the steps to make a sandwich: 1st bread, 2nd peanut butter, 3rd jelly, 4th close it.
Instruction Words Word Wall - Print & Cut Page 3 of 3
Instruction Word
IDENTIFY
🎯
What it means
To find or point to something specific.
Everyday Life
Finding the Exit Sign
When you enter a new building, you identify where the "EXIT" sign is in case you need to leave quickly.
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Instruction Word
SUMMARIZE
📝
What it means
To tell the most important parts in a short way.
Everyday Life
Telling Your Day
When someone asks about your weekend, you summarize by telling them the 2 best things you did, rather than every detail.
Daily Action Match Worksheet Daily Action Match
Practice using your action words in daily life!
Name:
Date:
Directions:
Draw a straight line from the Action Word on the left to its matching Everyday Task on the right.
🎯
Identify
Find or point to it
🔢
Sequence
Put steps in order
🌗
Contrast
Find the differences
🔍
Analyze
Look very closely
Making Toast
Doing the steps one by one: 1st bread, 2nd toaster, 3rd butter.
Reading Medication Directions
Reading the warning label carefully to see how many pills to take.
Looking for the Restroom Sign
Walking around a restaurant and finding the door with the correct symbol.
Hot Water vs. Cold Water
Finding the differences between the red handle and the blue handle.
Instruction Words for Life Page 1 of 2
What Action Should I Do?
Read the daily task and check the correct action word.
Name:
Date:
1
You want to buy peanut butter. You look at a small jar and a big jar to see which one is a better deal. What are you doing?
Compare
Identify
2
You are following directions to cook microwave soup: 1) Open lid, 2) Add water, 3) Cook for 2 minutes. What are you doing?
Summarize
Sequence
3
Your teacher asks how your shopping trip went. You say: "It went great, I bought a sweater and paid the cashier." What are you doing?
Summarize
Contrast
4
You look at a list of chore cards. You point to the chore that matches "Take Out Trash" so you can start working. What are you doing?
Identify
Analyze
Instruction Words for Life Page 2 of 2
Instruction Words Teacher Guide Educator Resource
Instruction Words Teacher Guide
How to teach academic directives in a functional, life-skills context.
6 Core Words
Why Functional Academics?
Life Skills students frequently encounter academic direction words like Compare or Sequence on worksheets, digital tasks, and in vocational environments. By teaching these words through concrete, everyday living examples, students bridge the gap between abstract academic terms and practical daily independence.
Active Learning Strategies
🔍 Analyze
Active Routine: Use grocery receipts or clothing labels. Have students circle or highlight the price, size, or washing directions using a colorful marker.
⚖️ Compare
Active Routine: Place two coins, cereal bowls, or shoes side-by-side. Ask: "How are these the same?" Guide them to notice same color, shape, or purpose.
🌗 Contrast
Active Routine: Contrast hot and cold water taps, or a full trash can versus an empty trash can. Highlight the differences visually and tactilely.
🔢 Sequence
Active Routine: Cut up visual recipes (e.g., peanut butter sandwich steps). Have students physically rearrange card pictures from first to last step.
🎯 Identify
Active Routine: Walk through the school or neighborhood and have students point to and name safety signs (e.g., "Stop", "Exit", "Wet Floor").
📝 Summarize
Active Routine: After a community outing or morning meeting, ask students to tell you only the two best parts. Write these on a summary card.
Prompting Guide & Tips
Suggested Prompting Hierarchy
1. Independent: Give directions and wait 5 seconds.
2. Gestural: Point to the target word wall card or symbol.
3. Verbal: Ask a leading question: "Are we putting things in order?"
4. Physical: Guide student hand to point to or select option.
Daily Classroom Integration
Morning Meeting: Introduce one word per day. Refer to its real-life example during circle time.Interactive Matching: Use the student worksheet as guided practice right after reviewing the word cards.Task Transition: Before cooking, say: "We are going to make oatmeal. We need to
