Symbol Match: Bottles and Containers

A carefully structured resource designed for SEND, MFL and KS1 children, using familiar household, kitchen, and food items that come in a variety of packets, boxes, bottles, and containers such as cereal, cooking oil, rice, and shampoo.
The resource uses Boardmaker-licensed symbols to support communication, vocabulary development, and visual understanding.
The pack includes two differentiated sets of worksheets, each containing four activity pages, allowing teachers to easily adapt the level of challenge to meet individual needs.
In each set, Page 1 presents 18 everyday containers shown in colour with symbols and written labels to support word–picture recognition.
Page 2 shows the same containers in colour with written labels only, removing the symbol support for children ready to rely more on text.
Page 3 provides a black-and-white version of Page 2 for colouring and pencil-control activities, while Page 4 shows the containers in black and white with no words or pictures, encouraging independent thinking and expressive language.
A teacher guidance sheet is included with 5 suggested ways to use the resource.
Ideas include duplicating and laminating the colour pages, cutting out containers for matching and sorting activities, and using them for small-group or intervention work.
The final page is ideal for open-ended learning, as children decide what should go inside each container, draw their ideas, write the matching word, and colour in their work.
These activities link to topics such as capacity, shape and space, food, design technology, cookery and homes, making the resource easy to integrate into everyday classroom learning.
This resource is valuable for SEND children and those with English as an Additional Language (EAL). The clear visuals, repeated vocabulary, and gradual reduction of scaffolding help children build confidence with new words in a meaningful, real-world context.
By linking spoken language, symbols, and written words, children are supported in developing understanding, communication skills, and independence at their own pace.