Three - Period Lesson & Memory games

Three period lessons are used throughout the Montessori environment to help introduce a new lesson
or concept and lead the children along a path to understanding and mastery. However, in the area of
language they are used to increase, enrich and broaden a child's vocabulary.

The Three Period Lesson is to be given after the child has had much experience with the material itself.

The Three Period-Lesson: The Three Period-Lesson are:

1. Naming Period

2. Recognition and Association Period

3. Pronouncing Period

Begin this learning, by putting three contrasting objects on a table in front of a child. For example a
block of, circle, square and triangle.

1. Naming Period:

Ø This period is overall rather short as it simply involves giving the object a name.

Ø Directress point to the first object and say circle.

Ø Repeat names several times clearly and slowly. Also make small sentences like “This is a circle”.

Ø Child observed the object hold it in his hand feels it.

2. Recognition and Association Period:

Ø This period is much longer then the first one.

Ø Rearrange the objects and ask the child to show you.

Ø Ask child to “Show me the circle”, or “Put your finger on the triangle”.

Ø Rearrange the objects and again ask these questions.

3. Pronouncing Period:

Ø When directress sure that child remember all the objects plus their names in to his long term memory,
than this period starts. This is a testing period.

Ø Directress challenges the child to name the object himself.

Ø Point out to one object and ask “What is this?”

Ø If child fails to tell any name, casually end the lesson without making the child feel as though he is
failed. For this repeat second period.

There is the Three Period-Lesson for grading an object positively, comparatively, and superlatively. Here
taking an adjective to explain these periods.

Grading

Positives

Comparatives

Superlatives

First Period

This is big book

This book is bigger than this.

This book is biggest.

Second Period

Show me the big book

Show me the book which is slightly bigger than this book.

Show me the biggest book.

Third Period

What is this?

Which book is bigger?

Which book is biggest?

Memory Games: Memory games are to be introduced to the child when the child’s interest in the
materials is fading and to bring new interest to the material the child already know very well. These
games could also be shown to bring the older to revisit the material and can be given before or after the
three period-lesson is given, depending on the game itself.

Purposes of Memory Games:

1. To prolong the activity with the material, this will assure a stronger absorption by the child.

2. The games work as a motivation in discovering more variations of the material.

3. To help directress verify the child’s language of the material.

4. To bridge the work of quantity and to allow the child to discover the quality of the materials in the
word around him.

Game 1: Matching at a Distance: Two different tables placed with a distance.

Ø Take a pair of material and put one on each table.

Ø Directress takes one of the objects from one table and offer child to feel it by holding in his hand.

Ø Directress asks the child to bring the same object from the distant table. Repeat this until all pair of
material matched correctly.

Game 2: Grading from a Distance: Two different tables placed with a distance. Placed a grading material
like pink tower randomly on one table.

A) From an Extreme:

Ø Pick up one of the extremes like the largest one. Put it on the second table.
Ø Ask the child to bring the slightly smallest of it and put it on the second table.

Ø Complete this exercise after child put all the blocks on second table from largest to smallest.

B) From Midpoint (For this game child must have the vocabulary)

Ø Pick up one of the middle of the block from it. Put it on the second table.

Ø Ask the child to bring the slightly smallest then largest of it and put it on the second table.

Ø Complete this exercise after child put all the blocks on second table from largest to smallest.

Game 3: Stereognostic: Play this game with a group of children, who are sitting around a round table/
mat.

Ø Directress gives Pink tower block to each child. Children hide them at their back while holding them in
hand.

Ø Directress asks for the largest block. Children feel them and put it on the table.

Ø Repeat this until complete tower blocks placed from largest to smallest.

Game 4: Material to the Environment: In this game materials are related from environment. (Color
tablets/ shades, geometric shapes/ solids etc.)

Ø Place a mat, put the material on the mat e.g. color tablets.

Ø Directress point to one of the color and ask children to find something from the environment which is
of that color.

Ø Repeat this for all the colors and shades.

Game 5: Environment to the Material: This is similar to the above game but opposite in directions.

Ø Place a mat, put the material on the mat e.g. color tablets.

Ø Directress point to one of the color from the environment and ask children to find the same color
from the color tablets.

Ø Repeat this for many of the colors and shades.