Matching: Safari Animals
by Learning at Home and School © 2026
Premier Publisher
Price: $2 USD
Subjects: ot,grossMotorSkills
Grades: 1,2,3,4,5
Description
This interactive safari animal matching game is designed to support skill development in both occupational therapy and speech-language therapy sessions. Students flip cards to find matching pairs of safari animals, strengthening attention, memory, and visual discrimination in a motivating, play-based format. For Occupational Therapists, this activity supports: • Visual scanning and tracking • Visual memory and discrimination • Attention and sustained focus • Executive functioning (planning and strategy) • Fine motor skills when used on tablets with targeted tapping For Speech-Language Pathologists, this activity supports: • Animal vocabulary development • Expressive language (naming and describing animals) • Receptive language (following directions, identifying attributes) • Sentence formulation and expansion • Categorization and comparing/contrasting skills • Social communication during turn-taking games Therapists can easily adapt the activity by asking students to: • Describe the animal before flipping • Use the animal in a sentence • Identify attributes (size, habitat, diet) • Compare two animals • Practice articulation targets while naming animals This safari-themed memory game provides structured repetition in a fun, engaging format that supports both cognitive and communication goals across settings.
Acknowledgements
Logo and card design Canva for Education Safari Pictures Taken by Stan and Cathy Slade, used with permission.