How To Use Montessori Inspired 3 Part Cards
What are Montessori 3 Part Cards?
Montessori style 3 Part Cards consist of cards separated into 3 parts. The first card contains both a picture and label. The second card has only a picture and the third card is just the label.
This activity builds vocabulary, but also acts as a tactile learning activity. By manipulating and arranging the information as the child see fit, information is retained and internalized. The presence of the “key” card allows for children to complete self-checks and reinforces independent learning.
Key cards, label, and picture cards are usually a good fit for learners ages 3 to 6 years old. Elementary level cards for children aged 6-9 may have definitions added in place of the “key card” (picture/label/definition) . Key cards can be given as a control during or after the activity or picture cards can include a key on the back side.
6 Different Ways to Use Montessori Inspired 3 Part Cards
1. Traditional Method - Have students set out their key cards in appropriate order. For the Solar System 3 Part Card example, the child has placed their key cards in sequential order from the sun. The child will then match the picture card to both the key card and the subsequent label.
2. Object Replace - In the next example, the student has replaced the picture cards with objects. The object in the example are the Safari Ltd. Solar System items (affiliate). We’ve added our own clay dwarf planet Pluto to the mix for both discussion purposes and nostalgia. (Hey, if they can bring Full House back, I can bring back Pluto.)
3. Key Card Number Recognition - In the Solar System 3 Part Card example, the numbered order of planets is explored using wooden tiles from our hundred board (affiliate). You could use any number activity you have on hand or even make your own number cards. Your child could also practice writing the numbers themselves.
4. Key Card Counting - If your cards lend themselves well to number and sequencing you can introduce counting into your lesson with counting objects. We like to use felt balls (affiliate) and colorful popsicle sticks (affiliate).
5. Spelling - Use a movable alphabet to spell out the labels from your 3 Part Cards. We use our wooden moveable alphabet (affiliate) but there are some cute printable options out there, too. (I’ll make you guys a free one soon. I promise!). The Melissa and Doug brand also has this activity (affiliate) and it could work well in a pinch. I prefer our alphabet because of the differentiation between vowels and consonants which is great practice for kinder kiddos and early readers.
6. Starts With - This is another good exercise for early readers using letter recognition. We use the key cards and/or their objects as language objects. If the sounds aren’t a great match we just use the cards as an opportunity to match first letters. Mmm…Mars works perfectly. Eee…Earth —> not so great. You could always pull out the offending letter sounds and just leave the appropriate ones. Letters are from our wooden moveable alphabet (affiliate).
I hope you found this short guide and list of ideas on using Montessori Inspired 3 Part Cards helpful and informative. Links presented in this post may be affiliate links, but I only link to products I know and use in our home.
Thanks for reading!
Space Montessori 3-Part Cards.
Suggested Material: Card stock (laminating optional)
Preparation: Material can be precut by instructor or used in student cutting practice with scissors.
Skills: Vocabulary building, self-corrected study, matching
16 card set (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Asteroid Belt, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto, Meteor, Comet, Star, Earth’s Moon, Galaxy)
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