## UHT-16 Trait Set (Prototype) A streamlined version of the full 32 trait UHT system to support learning in early years and for SEND students: A physical card deck comprising: ### **Physical (Red)** 1. **Object** – “It’s a real thing you can touch.” 2. **Perceptible** – “You can see, hear, or feel it.” 3. **Fixed** – “It doesn’t move or change easily.” 4. **Man-made** – “Humans made it.” ### **Functional (Green)** 5. **Purposeful** – “It’s meant to do something.” 6. **Emits Output** – “It makes something happen.” 7. **Interacts with People** – “You can use it or talk to it.” 8. **Part of a Bigger Thing** – “It connects to something else.” ### **Abstract (Blue)** 9. **Symbolic** – “It stands for something else.” 10. **Rule-based** – “It follows clear steps or rules.” 11. **Behavior-guiding** – “It tells people what to do.” 12. **Contextual** – “It changes depending on the situation.” ### **Social (Yellow)** 13. **Teachable** – “You can teach it to someone.” 14. **Visible (social)** – “Other people can see or recognize it.” 15. **Regulated** – “There are rules or laws about it.” 16. **Role-based** – “It’s about who someone is or what they do.” ## **How UHT Trait Cards Help SEND Learners** ### 1. **Supports Visual + Tactile Learning** - Cards offer **visual anchors** (colors, icons, layouts) - Learners can **touch**, **sort**, and **group** traits - Helps externalize abstract thought into physical interaction ### 2. **Breaks Meaning into Manageable Pieces** - UHT traits are **small units of meaning** — bite-sized and learnable - Avoids overwhelm from full definitions or dense text - Learners can build meaning one card at a time ### 3. **Builds Identity + Expression** - Helps learners **communicate what they understand** something to be - Encourages ownership: _“I think this object is structured, passive, and interacts with humans.”_ - Enables alternative communication forms (especially for non-verbal learners) ### 4. **Pattern Matching and Sorting Activities** - Sort by **layer** (Physical, Functional, Abstract, Social) - Group by **trait** (e.g., all “symbolic” things) - Spot overlaps and differences - Good for executive functioning and cognitive flexibility ### 5. **Promotes Inclusion and Cross-Ability Collaboration** - UHT doesn’t assume prior literacy or domain knowledge - Peers can use cards to communicate shared meaning nonverbally - SEND students can **participate in conceptual activities** using traits instead of language