Montessori Three-Part Cards are designed to help children learn and process the information presented on them. They help children build vocabulary, learn to spell, and practice categorizing and organizing skills.
A Montessori Three-Part Card set has three parts: one card shows the picture with the word label underneath; another card shows only the picture; and the third card shows only the word label.
To start, lay out the picture cards from left to right, introducing one term at a time. For young children, use only five cards. Ask the child to point to the picture card you name.
Then gather the picture cards in your hand, place them down one at a time, and ask, “What is this?” For object-to-picture matching, ask the child to match a small figurine or object to the correct picture card.
Next, lay out the labeled picture cards (called control cards) and read each word to the child. Ask the child to match each plain picture card to the matching control card.
Then have the child take each label card, compare it to the first control card, and continue until every label matches its control card. Once the child can read, ask them to lay out the picture cards and name each term.
Then have them read each label card and match it to the correct picture card.
Finally, let the child use the control cards to check their own work and fix any mistakes.
Three-part card set for children aged 6-9 (lower elementary) consists of a picture card, a definition (information) card, and a label card. Attach stickers or draw dots of different colors on the flipped side of each card set for self-check.
Step 1. The child lays down all the picture cards in a row from left to right.
Step 2. The child reads and matches all label cards and places them below the picture cards.
Step 3. The child reads the definition cards and places them below the label cards.
Step 4. The child flips cards over to self-check and makes sure all sets are matched correctly.
Follow-up activities.
As a follow-up activity, the child can be invited to make a booklet. The child draws pictures from cards and copies labels or definitions. Some printable sets come with student booklets. The child is invited to color pictures, trace labels or copy new vocabulary he or she learned when working with the card set.
To use Montessori 3-part cards with elementary students, first have them match each picture to its label and check their work using the control cards. Then give them information cards that have a few simple facts about each topic. Ask each student to pick one topic they like, copy one fact from the information card into their journal, and draw a picture of that topic in the same journal. After that, let them choose one card to research further.
