Tree nomenclatures: matching

What are nomenclatures?

Montessori nomenclatures or three-part cards are usually found in the cultural area of a classroom. The word ‘nomenclature’ comes from the Latin word nomenclatura - meaning ‘assigning names’. The child learns different parts of either a plant or an animal using the nomenclature cards.

The first picture is in its natural colour, and the remaining pictures have certain areas highlighted in red.

The control set of nomenclature cards are made up of picture cards with matching labels below each picture.

The working set of nomenclature cards include picture cards, as well as separate matching label cards for each picture.

How is the matching activity done with the tree nomenclature cards

The directress starts by telling the child that they are going to be learning about the different parts of a tree. She places the labelled set of pictures at the top of the mat, briefly discussing each one as she does so, starting with the natural coloured picture.

The directress then matches the unlabelled set of cards, by moving them from left to right until the respective picture is found. She places each unlabelled card below the labelled set, one by one, with the child’s assistance.

The directress then matches the first label to the corresponding picture, by moving them from left to right until the respective label is found. She invites the child to match the labels to the corresponding pictures. When the child is finished matching, the directress helps him to pack away.

What does the child learn by matching nomenclature cards?

This activity encourages the child to have a high level of concentration and patience, it develops the child’s matching skills, the child notices the tree in a more abstract form, as well as this activity gives the child further practice in recognising the different parts of a tree.

What other Cultural activities are presented in the same manner?

• The Leaf nomenclatures: matching

• The Flower nomenclatures: matching

• The Bird nomenclatures: matching

  Looking for more Montessori activities?

  Here is a list of all the Montessori Cultural activities. These include: Nature table, Nature walk, Blindfold trail, Silence game, Living and non-living things, Importance of the sun, Sandpaper globe, Continent globe, Plant classified cards, The tree, The leaf, The flower, and the seed.

  Botany

  • Nature Table

  • Nature Walk (group)

  • Blindfold trail (group)

  • Silence game (group)

  • Sandpaper Globe

  • Continent Globe

  • Living and non-living

  • Importance of the sun

  Plant classified cards

  • Loosely grouped plant classified cards: matching

  • Loosely grouped plant classified cards: three-period lesson

  • Loosely grouped plant classified cards: for the reading child

  The tree

  • The tree nature walk

  • Tree puzzle

  • Tree nomenclatures: three-period lesson

  • Tree nomenclatures: for the reading child

  The leaf

  • The leaf cabinet (presentation one)

  • The leaf cabinet (presentation two)

  • The leaf cabinet (presentation five: a naming exercise)

  The flower

  • The flower nature walk

  • Growing plants

  The seed

  • Seed dispersal

  Zoology

  • Field trip

  • Model animals

  • Large pictures of animals in their natural habitat

  • Phylum (presentation one: overview)

  • Phylum (presentation two: focusing on the Phylum class)