21st August 2019
I actually prepared this for my top students in a Young Learners’ Level 3 (ages from 9 – 11) class; university-level semiotics. While most of the class just do the assigned work – no more, no less – others make no effort at all and are unable or unwilling to answer a question to which I have just given the answer. Then we have the top cats … I’m lucky to have two exceptional students in my class as well as two others who, with some effort, could also reach those Olympian heights.
The following is a very simplified, breakdown of everyday signs, symbols and the modern use of the word ‘icon’ as related to technology. The original categorisation into ‘icon, index & symbol’ was devised by Charles Sanders Peirce, and more information can be found on this Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotic_theory_of_Charles_Sanders_Peirce#II._Icon,_index,_symbol
The following I have printed out as a three-page activity worksheet for my top cats (who generally finish bookwork before others have even started).
A sign uses pictures to give information or to tell people what they can or can not do:
What do these signs mean ? /// The first sign means no smoking.
The second sign means … /// The third sign means …
A symbol is a picture or things that represents a place, city or country.
The ao dai and non la are symbols that represent Viet Nam
What do these symbols represent ?
Icons are used on computers and smartphones. For example, this icon:
represents a dictionary. How about these ?
Draw two more icons from a computer or smartphone.
Draw two signs that could be used in Vietnam
What do these signs from Singapore mean ?
What do you think of these signs ?
Do you agree ? Do you disagree ? Tell me why …
Thay Paul's Notes 
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