Ms. Wood says, “Children under the age of six have an unlimited capacity for language, and want to know the names of everything around them.”

We invite you to support your child’s natural desire to learn new vocabulary at home with a tried and true method from the Montessori classroom: The 3 Period Lesson.

You’ll see in the video above how to present the 3 Period Lesson and we’ve included some helpful step-by-step instructions below as well. Don’t forget to download and print out the free Sports: 3 Part Cards you see in the video from the Montessori Company!

1st Period: Naming

Start by introducing one new vocabulary word: “This is a Basketball.” Name two more for a total of three new words.

2nd Period: Recognizing

Next, using the same set of 3 cards you’ve just learned, ask your child to do an action with the card. For example, “Which one is Soccer”, “Point at…”, “Pick up…”, or “Put the…over there”. Your child will need to recognize the new vocabulary here!

3rd Period: Remembering

Lastly, point at or pick up a card and ask your child, “What is this?” Your child will be confident in their new vocabulary after working with it in three different ways!

Continue with a new set of 3 cards if your child is interested, or save some for another day.

You can use this 3 period lesson for any type of new vocabulary your child is interested in! Try using real materials when you can (especially for toddlers), or substitute high quality, life-like images when you don’t have the real thing.

Enjoy exploring new vocabulary with your child!

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