SEND Barrier Game – Build a Scene The Zoo

This SEND barrier game – Build a Scene The Zoo – is a structured speaking and listening activity designed to develop clear communication, careful listening and vocabulary use. Pupils work in pairs to recreate a zoo scene by giving and following verbal instructions, using an information-gap approach to strengthen expressive and receptive language.

With a barrier placed between them, one pupil arranges zoo animals, shapes and objects on their baseboard. They must describe each item and explain exactly where it is positioned so their partner can recreate the same layout without seeing it. Once complete, the barrier is removed and both scenes are compared.

Differentiating the instructions

This Zoo barrier game can be adapted depending on pupils’ communication targets and confidence levels:

• Simple instructions: Place a car on the lion.
• Adding size or colour detail: Place the smallest gorilla on the crocodile.
• Using positional language: Place the pink shark below the pentagon shape.
• Multi-step directions: Place the green car below the giraffe and place the small seal on the blue circle.
• Describing without naming: Place the blue animal with sharp teeth and a fin next to the object with green leaves and a trunk.

By increasing the number of key words, introducing shape vocabulary and expanding positional language, you can gradually raise the level of challenge while maintaining structure and clarity.

Skills supported

• Speaking and listening skills
• Expressive and receptive language development
• Understanding and giving precise instructions
• Vocabulary linked to colour, size, shape and position
• Turn taking and collaborative interaction
• Attention, sequencing and working memory

This zoo-themed barrier game works well in SEND interventions, speech and language sessions, small-group communication work or structured classroom practice. The clear visual scene and familiar animal vocabulary provide strong scaffolding while pupils practise structured, purposeful conversation.

Explore more structured communication activities in our barrier games collection.