The Three-Period Montessori Lesson: A Simple Guide to Teaching New Concepts to Kids

The Three-Period Montessori Lesson is a powerful teaching method used by Montessori educators to introduce new vocabulary and concepts to children. This method consists of three key stages: Naming, Recognition, and Recall. It’s an effective way to teach children a variety of concepts, such as colors, shapes, plants, fruits, and more.

In this article, we’ll explore how to use the Three-Period Lesson to teach colors to children. You can use flashcards for each color or opt for ready-made sets like the Alphabet Flashcards from Pabipub’s product line.

Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching Colors

Step 1: Preparation

  1. Ask the child to separate the flashcards of colors they already know. For example, they might recognize yellow, red, blue, green, and white. Set these aside.

  2. Place the remaining six colors (e.g., orange, pink, purple, brown, gray, and black) on the table.

  3. Let the child choose three colors they’d like to learn. For this example, let’s assume they pick pink, purple, and orange.

Step 2: The Three-Period Lesson

Period 1: Naming

  • Place one flashcard (e.g., purple) on the table and say, “This is purple.”

  • Ask the child to repeat after you. Repeat this process for each color several times.

Period 2: Recognition

  • Place all three flashcards (pink, purple, and orange) on the table.

  • Say, “Show me purple,” and wait for the child to point to the correct card.

  • Give simple commands like, “Put orange in my hand,” “Place pink on your foot,” or “Put purple on the table.”

  • Repeat until you’re confident the child recognizes each color.

Period 3: Recall

  • Hold up one flashcard and ask, “What color is this?”

  • Wait for the child to name the color. If they answer correctly, move to the next card. If not, return to Period 2.

Tips for Success

  • Repetition is key: Repeat each period multiple times before moving to the next.

  • Go back if needed: If the child struggles in Period 2, return to Period 1. If they struggle in Period 3, return to Period 2.

  • One-on-one focus: Like all Montessori methods, this lesson works best when teaching one child at a time.

Why This Method Works

The Three-Period Lesson is a simple yet effective way to teach children new concepts. It builds confidence, encourages active participation, and makes learning fun. You can adapt this method to teach a wide range of topics to children of all ages.

Explore Pabipub’s Educational Tools

At Pabipub, we believe in making learning engaging and accessible. Check out our collection of Montessori-inspired flashcards and other educational tools to support your child’s learning journey.

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