The river Usk ~ looking upstream in the higher reaches
Introduction
This resource is intended for ages from two and upwards. As soon as the child has grasped that these cards are for looking at ~ not for chewing.
The Usk cards come in a set of 56 cards but the intended use is for a few cards at a time. The ten digits ~ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 ~ are represented in four different ways ~ as numbers ~ words ~ organised dots ~ jumbled dots. Several number-related words are included [view thumbnails].
The cards have been designed and produced by a team including: teachers, assistant teachers, photographers and graphic designers. The printing and finishing is by a specialist UK firm that works to the highest standard ~ this ensures easy-handling and long-life for the cards, which is necessary (because learning to spell ‘eight’ is hardly in the ‘very early years’ category).
Use of the cards provides an opportunity for dialogue. The early child‘s brain is copying rather than understanding ~ which follows on as experience grows. The intimacy of parental contact cannot be replicated at school. It starts at the breast - and if maintained it will continue until university starts and home-life akes on a new pattern. Why do teenagers grunt when asked “What did you do at school today?” Could it be because you never showed suchterest in the previous ten years - why are you being nosey now?
Usk cards are designed for the very earliest pre-play school explorers and their mothers. They consist of the ten digits: each presented in the three most common ways. The set is designed to last for several years ~ from learning about 'one' and 'two' in infancy, to the correct spelling 'eight' at a later age. Further details are available [usk], and the set is also available to all [sale].
The set of 56 Usk cards splits into five parts ~
The full set is illustrated [124761]
