Asking for help — sorting cards

Getting help when something is stuck · 5–9 · Roo Bloom

How to use these pages

Print all the pages. A4, single sided, at 100% — not “fit to page”.
Cut along the dashed lines to make the cards.
Put the two mats on the table, a bit apart.
Read a card out, or let your child read it, and put it on the mat they choose.
The answer key on the last page is for you. It is not for marking — it is so you have the explanation ready when your child asks why.

Lay the two mats out apart. Each card is one thing somebody did when they got stuck.

GETS YOU HELP

Gets you help

LEAVES YOU STUCK

Leaves you stuck

The cards

Cut along the dashed lines

Ava is stuck on her maths sheet.
Ava: “I don't get this bit.”
Ava puts her hand up and says it.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Leo's yoghurt lid will not open.
Leo holds the yoghurt out to Mr Reed.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Zara cannot find her hat for the oval.
Zara stands by the hooks and waits.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
The teacher says the craft steps very fast.
the teacher: “Fold it, cut it, then glue it.”
Sam: “Can you say that again?”
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Omar falls over. His knee is bleeding a lot.
Omar: “Mr Reed, I hurt my knee.”
Omar goes over while Mr Reed is talking.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Ruby's glue lid is stuck. She has not tried yet.
Ruby asks for help before trying it herself.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
The toilet door is stuck. Tam cannot get out.
Tam waits quietly for someone to notice.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Hana's tummy hurts. She feels like she might vomit.
Hana keeps working and hopes it stops.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Mat time is loud today. Eli's ears are hurting.
Eli: “I need a break.”
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Beau needs help. His teacher is not on the oval.
Beau wanders around looking for her.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Suri finished her work. She doesn't know where it goes.
Suri sits holding the paper and waits.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom
Ms Patel is helping Finn. Ines needs help too.
Ines taps Ms Patel and asks straight away.
Asking for help · Roo Bloom

For grown-ups: what each card is about

Cards marked “either” are the interesting ones. Both answers are defensible and the conversation is the point.

1. GETS YOU HELP
Ms Patel knows which bit is tricky, so she can help.
Say which bit is tricky.
2. GETS YOU HELP
Mr Reed can see the problem, so he opens it.
Showing something counts as asking.
3. LEAVES YOU STUCK
Nobody knows the hat is missing, so nobody looks for it.
Tell someone when something is lost. — Tell the teacher your hat is missing.
4. GETS YOU HELP
The teacher can say the steps again, slower this time.
Ask for the words again.
5. GETS YOU HELP
Hurt cannot wait, so Mr Reed stops and helps Omar.
If you are hurt, tell someone now.
6. Either
For a stuck lid, try once then ask. If you are hurt or scared, ask straight away.
Try once. Hurt means ask now.
7. LEAVES YOU STUCK
Nobody outside can tell that Tam is stuck in there.
Make a noise so someone comes. — Knock hard on the door until someone comes.
8. LEAVES YOU STUCK
The teacher cannot help with a sore tummy she doesn't know about.
Tell someone when your body feels bad. — Show your help card or say your tummy hurts.
9. GETS YOU HELP
Now the teacher knows, so Eli can use the quiet corner.
Asking for a break is allowed.
10. LEAVES YOU STUCK
Beau keeps moving, so no grown-up ever gets asked.
Any grown-up can help, not only yours. — Go to the teacher in the yellow vest.
11. LEAVES YOU STUCK
Suri waits with the paper, so nobody knows she is stuck.
Ask when you don't know what to do. — Ask Mr Reed where the finished work goes.
12. Either
If it is a broken pencil, wait a minute. If someone is hurt, tell her now.
Urgent means now. Small can wait.