Plural

Program

Kimberley Knight (Speech Pathologist)

Toowoomba and Darling Downs Districts, Education Queensland.
Based on original program written and produced by Gay Horsburgh, Robynne Littlefair and
Wendy Moore for West Metropolitan Region, Department of Health NSW
Introduction to program:
Your child leaves the ‘s’ ending off words. This ending carries meaning and helps to make a
sentence correct.
This program is to help teach your child to use the ‘s’ ending in easy steps. There are 5 Steps
to follow in teaching your child to use the ‘s’ ending – only move onto the next step once
your child is getting it correct 9/10 times:

The 5 Steps are:

1. Teaching the ‘s’ ending

2. Putting two words together
3. Using the ‘s’ ending in sentences
4. Using the ‘s’ ending in harder games
5. Using the ‘s’ ending in talking

Tips for working through the activities:

• It is important to try to practise everyday. It is only by practising that your child will
learn. Try for 5 days/week.
• Practice for about 10-15 minutes each day – it is better to have short, regular practise
then long, infrequent practise.
• It is best to practise somewhere quiet or away from distraction (e.g. television) so that
you can hear what your child is saying.
• Try to keep a record of your child’s progress so that you can see whether they are
improving. Use the record sheet provided to keep track of how your child is going.

What to say to your child:

• When your child remembers to use the ‘s’ ending, make sure you praise them and let
them know what it was that they did correct
o “Great! You remembered to say ‘s’ at the end, Well done!
o “Excellent. I really liked the way you remember to use buses in your sentence.”

• When your child forgets to say the ‘s’ ending, make sure you model the correct way
and tell them why they are wrong. During sessions you can ask your child to repeat
you and say it the right way
o “Oops, you forgot to say the ‘s’ at the end, there are two boys – can you say
that for me”.
o “You need to say boys, there are two boys so you need to say ‘s’ at the end.
• During general talking, outside of sessions, when you notice your child not using ‘s’
endings correctly, model the correct way to say what they were trying to say. You
don’t need to get your child to repeat what they say it’s just important that they hear
the correct way.
o Child: "Can I play with my block, Mum”. You: “your blocks? You can play with
your blocks for five minutes”.
 Progress sheet
Number
Date Step (1-5) Comment
correct
Eg. 22/08 Step 2 – One time Freddy put an ‘s’ on the
9/10
game 8 – body parts end when it wasn’t needed.
Eg. 31/08 Step 4 – Freddy unwell today. Cut session
3/10
Letterbox game short.
 Progress sheet
Number
Date Step (1-5) Comment
correct
Step 1: Teaching the ‘s‘s’ ending
Explain that your child forgets to put the ‘s’ on the end of words when talking.

Point to the picture and say: “Sometimes, you forget to put ‘s’ on the end of words
when you’re talking. When we talk about lost of things we say ‘s’ on the end. Listen,
cups”. There’s lots of cups so we say cups.

We have called this sound ‘s’ but it may sound different in different words.
e.g. cups……..sounds like ‘s’
balls……..sounds like ‘z’
houses…..sounds like ‘ez’

Here are some games to help your child remember the new ending.

Game 1: Jigsaw 1
In this game you and your child get to play with the jigsaw on the next page. Your
child will get to practice the ‘s’ ending after you.

e.g. You say: “Cups”

Child says: “Cups”
OR
You say: “Hat”
Child says: “Hat”

If your child forgets to say the special ‘s’ ending you say:
“Remember to put that ‘s’ ending on to tell us we’re talking about lots of things.
Listen again: Boats.”

Game 2: Jigsaw 2
This game is just like game 1. This time your child will practice the ‘s’ ending when it
sounds like ‘z’. As in game 1 ask your child to say the special ending after you
e.g. You say: “Dogs”
Child says: “Dogs”
OR
You say: “Boy”
Child says: “Boy”.

Game 3: Jigsaw 3
This is the last jigsaw game! This time your child will practice the ‘s’ ending when it
sounds like ‘ez’. As in Games 1 and 2 ask your child to say the special ending after
you.

e.g. You say: “Houses”

Child says: “Houses”
OR
You say: “Box”
Child says: “Box”

Game 4: The Fishing Game

In this game your child gets to ‘fish’ for different pictures. These pictures have the
different ‘s’ endings.

On the following pages are the pictures to “catch”. Ask your child to fish for the
picture and say the word after you.

e.g. You say: “Witches”

Child says: “Witches”
OR
You say: “Fork”
Child says: “Fork”

Game 5: The Hide and Seek Game

In this game your child gets to practice more ‘s’ endings.

On the next page are some pictures to hide. When your child finds the picture,
You say: “You found mats. What did you find?”
Child says: “Mats”.

By asking the question after saying the word, your child will have to think a bit harder.

Game 6: The Spinner Game

In this spinner game your child gets to practice putting the ‘s’ ending on words
without your help.

On the next page is a spinner game for you to play with your child. Your child gets to
say what the arrow points to without your help.
e.g. You say: “What’s that?”
Child says: “Eyes”
If your child remembers to say the ‘s’ on the end of the word when it should be there
say: “That’s good. You remembered ‘s’ on the end because there are lots of ________
(eyes)”.

If your child forgets the ‘s’ ending say: “You forget that special ‘s’ ending. Eyes.

Game 7: The Discovery Game

Here is another game where your child can practice the ‘s’ ending without your help.

In this game your child gets to tell you what different things are around the house.
Walk around the house pointing to different things such as toys, objects, furniture etc.

Ask your child to tell you what you are pointing to.
e.g. You say: “What’s that?”
Child says: “Chairs” (Table, spoons etc.)

Listen carefully to whether your child says the words right or wrong.
When your child gets 10/10 correct you can go on to Step 2.
GAME ONE: JIGSAW ONE
1. Stick the pictures on cardboard and cut along the lines.
2. Mix them up on a table.
3. Get your child to find the pairs, e.g. cup with cups.
4. Ask your child to say the names of the pictures after you.
GAME TWO: JIGSAW TWO
1. Stick the pictures on cardboard and cut along the lines.
2. Mix them up on a table.
3. Get your child to find the pairs, e.g. boy with boys.
4. Ask your child to say the names of the pictures after you.
GAME THREE: JIGSAW THREE
1. Stick the pictures on cardboard and cut along the lines.
2. Mix them up on a table.
3. Get your child to find the pairs, e.g. box with boxes.
4. Ask your child to say the names of the pictures after you.
GAME FOUR: FISHING GAME

1. Cut out all the pictures. Put a paper clip on each one.
2. Put a magnet on a piece of string and ‘fish’ for each picture.
3. Ask your child to say the name of each picture after you.
4. Do this for all the pictures.
GAME FIVE: HIDE AND SEEK GAME
1. Cut out the pictures.
2. Hide them around the room.
3. When your child finds a picture, name it and ask your child what it is.
4. Keep playing until all the pictures have been found.
GAME SIX: SPINNER GAME
Making the Spinner
1. Cut out the arrow.
2. Stick it on cardboard.
3. Put a hole in the end.
4. Pin the arrow on the game with a thumbtack or split pin so that it will spin.
Playing the game
1. Put on the arrow as shown.
2. Ask your child to flick the arrow.
3. Ask your child to name the picture that the arrow lands on.
GAME SEVEN: THE DISCOVERY GAME
See earlier instructions - Go for a walk around the house and garden.
Step 2: Putting Two Words Together
Now your child gets to practice the ‘s’ ending on words with another word.

Game 8: The Draw a Boy Game

In Game 8 there is a picture of a boy. Your child gets to name parts of the boy after
you.
e.g. You say: “Two eyes”
Child says: “Two eyes”

These are the things your child will say after you.

Two eyes One mouth Two ears

One neck One T-Shirt Five fingers
One thumb Two Hands Two legs
Two shoelaces One pocket Two arms
Two socks One head One yo yo

Game 9: The Dice Game

In this game your child throws a dice to decide what colour the pictures will be. This
will be more practice at saying the ‘s’ ending with other words.

On the following pages are some pictures. Play the game and ask your child to tell
you what colour the things are after you.
e.g. You say: “Purple brushes”
Child says: “Purple brushes”

Game 10: The Shopping Game

In game 10 your child ‘goes shopping’ and practices the ‘s’ ending without your help.

On the following pages are lots of things your child buys. To buy the food your child
must say it’s name.
e.g. You say: “What do you want?”
Child says: “My bananas” OR “the bananas”
Or: “My apple” OR “the apple”

Game 11: The Size Game

Game 11 has another spinner game for your child to play. Your child gets even more
practice at putting “s’ on the end of words.

In this game your child talks about the size of different things.
e.g. You say: “What is this?”
Or: “What are these”
Child says: “Fat girl” “Tall lady” etc
Or: “Big boys” “Skinny girls” etc
GAME 8: DRAW A BOY GAME:
1. Point to parts of this boy’s body.
2. Name the part and ask your child to say it after you.
3. When your child can say all the parts right, after you, colour the boy in.
GAME 9: THE DICE GAME
To Make the Dice:
1. Colour in the dice.
2. Cut it out.
3. Stick it together.
4. Use this dice for the game on the next page.
GAME 9: THE DICE GAME
Playing the Game:
1. Roll the dice.
2. Colour in a picture to match the dice.
3. Say the colour of the picture (e.g. red hat) and ask your child to say it after you.
4. Do this for all the pictures.
GAME 10: THE SHOPPING GAME
1. Cut out all the pictures.
2. Ask what your child wants.
3. If the words are right, your child can put the food in the trolley.
4. Keep playing until all the food is in the trolley.
GAME 11: THE SIZE GAME
Making the Spinner
1. Cut out the arrow.
2. Stick it on cardboard.
3. Put a hole in the end.
4. Pin the arrow on the game with a thumbtack or split pin so that it will spin.
Playing the Game
1. Make the spinner game as shown.
2. Ask your child to flick the spinner.
3. Ask your child the question, remembering to point to both ends of the spinner.
4. Do this for all the pictures.
Step 3: Using the ‘S’ Ending in Sentences
Now your child gets to practice the’s’ on the end of words in sentences.

Game 12: The Body Game

In game 12 there are pictures of different parts of our bodies. Your child gets to say
what each part of the body does after you.
e.g. You say: “I have a finger for pointing”
Child says: “I have a finger for pointing”
OR
You say: “I have eyes for seeing”
Child says: “I have eyes for seeing”

Game 13: The Mummy’s Purse Game

In this game your child gets to practice the ‘s’ on the end of words in longer
sentences without your help.

On the following page is a purse with lots of things to go in it. Your child can tell you
what Mummy has in her purse.
e.g. You say: “What does Mummy have?”
Child says: “Mummy has one pen”
OR “Mummy has keys”

Game 14: The Farmhouse Game

In this game your child gets to talk about what animals like to eat.
On the following pages are pictures of animals and their favourite food. Ask your
child to tell you what the animals eat.
e.g. You say: “Tell me about what the animals eat”
Child says: “The horses eat hay”
“The cow eats grass”

You may need to help your child by saying the first two sentences.

Game 15: The Kitchen Game

In this game your child talks about where things are in the kitchen.
On the following pages is a picture of a kitchen for you to talk about.
e.g. You point to something in the kitchen and
You say: “What’s here?”
Child says: “The cakes in the oven”
“Bin under the table”

Listen to whether your child is putting the ‘s’ ending on the right words. Don’t worry if
the rest of the sentence is wrong, as long as your child says the ‘s’ ending in the right
place.
When your child gets all the sentences right go on to Step 4.
GAME 12: THE BODY GAME
1. Point to each picture.
2. Ask your child to say the sentence after you.
3. If your child is right, your child can do the action, e.g. can point, walk, sit etc.
4. Do this for all the pictures
GAME 13: THE MUMMY’S PURSE GAME

1. Cut out the pictures on the bottom of this page.

2. Cut along the dotted line on the purse.
3. Ask your child the question. When the sentence is right your child can put the
picture in Mummy’s purse.
GAME 14: THE FARMHOUSE GAME
1. Ask your child to tell you about what the animals eat.
2. Point to each of the animals.
3. When the sentence is right your child can draw a line between the animal and
its food.
GAME 15: THE KITCHEN GAME
1. Point to the things in this picture.
2. Ask your child the question.
3. When all the sentences are right your child may like to colour the picture in.
Step 4: Using The ‘S’ Ending in Harder Games
These games are for the older children. Your Speech Pathologist should tell you
whether to play these games with your child. If you don’t need to play these games
please turn to page 37 for some more ideas of things to do.

Game 16: The Memory Game

In this game your child gets to play Memory (Concentration).

On the following page are the picture cards to use in the game. When each person
turns over a card, they have to say what’s happening in the picture on that card.

First, you get to turn over two pictures.

e.g. You may turn over the picture of the dogs and picture of the girl, so you would
say: “The dogs are barking, and the girl is running.”

Then, your child gets to turn over two different pictures and say the sentences for
those pictures.
e.g. Your child could turn over the picture of a horse and a picture of cats. Your
child could say: “the horse is eating and the cats are sleeping.”

Game 17: The Letter Box Game

In this game your child gets to post “letters” to different people.

On the follwing pages are four letter boxes. Before each “letter” is posted, your child
must say, without your help, where each “letter” is going to.

e.g. You say: “Tell me about this letter”

Child says: “The horses are going to Nanna”
“The girl is going to Mummy.”

When your child remembers the ‘s’ ending in all the sentences you can go to Step 5.
GAME 16: THE MEMORY GAME
1. Cut out the pictures below and put them face down on a table.
2. Take turns to choose two cards, trying to find two which are the same.
3. Talk about each picture you turn over.
4. If the cards are the same you can keep them. If they are different, turn them
over again.
5. The person with the most cards wins.
GAME SEVENTEEN: THE LETTER BOX GAME
1. Put hair on each person’s head, so that they look like people in the family, e.g.
Nanna, Daddy, Mummy, Child.
2. Cut along the dotted lines on the letter boxes.
3. Use the pictures from Game 16 as “letters”.
4. Ask your child to say where the “letter” is going before posting it.
GAME SEVENTEEN: ‘Letters to post”
Step
Step 5: Using the ‘S’ Ending
Ending in Talking
Now that you have finished all the games, it’s time to help your child remember the
‘s’ ending in talking. Listen carefully whenever your child is talking.

When your child remembers the ‘s’ ending say: “Good, there are lots of dogs, so you
remembered the ‘s’ ending.”

If your child forgets, say: “Remember the ‘s’ ending because there are lots of birds.
Tell me that sentence again.”

There are lots of different times when you can listen to your child talking.

• When traveling in the car, bus or train.

• When going shopping.
• At the park or zoo.
• When looking at books together.

Maybe you can think of other times to listen for the ‘s’ ending.

Congratulations!!

To have reached this point you must both have been working very hard. Start
listening to all of your child’s talking. Maybe you can ask other people to listen too.
Remember to praise your child for remembering to use the ‘s’ ending in sentences. In
this way your child will learn to say the ‘s’ ending when talking.