Fruit Vocabulary
Rooted in Neurodevelopment-
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High quality materials
Eco-Happy
Fun & Engaging Activities
Ages/Stages
Common Core
Our Fruit Vocabulary cards are text-free picture cards with 12 real photographs of familiar fruits. Each photo shows the fruit's outside and inside. Students learn the precise name of each fruit through the three-period lesson, building spoken vocabulary before they read. They are designed for Montessori primary classrooms, homeschools, English learners, and intervention settings.
To a botanist, a fruit is the part of a plant that holds its seeds. Seeing each fruit cut open lets students discover the differences. A peach, for example, is a drupe, with a hard stone around a single seed, while other fruits hold many seeds inside. A detailed description of each fruit is included with the packet to support these conversations.
Because the cards have no printed words, pre-readers can focus on the photo and its name. Later, students can sort the cards, or match them to real fruit.
What's included
- 12 cards, each showing one real photograph of a fruit, outside and inside, with no text; fruits are ones students are familiar with (see photo for list)
- Cards are approx. 4¼" x 3¾"
- Eco-laminated with a food-grade laminate, with rounded corners
- Sturdy, clear reclosable bag for storage
- Lesson plan and fruit descriptions included
Display these cards in our medium cloth pouches (sold separately).
Created by a Montessori teacher. Eco-printed in our rural New England office.
Made in the USA. CPSIA compliant.
Note: Photos may change from those pictured.
Why do vocabulary cards matter for reading?
Interest drives learning. Montessori is a student-centered approach: the teacher observes what each student is curious about and offers materials that match. Young students are fascinated by the real objects they encounter every day. When they are interested in the topic, students will choose these cards again and again. Each time is more practice naming, discussing, and sorting. That practice builds vocabulary, part of the language comprehension side of reading in both Gough and Tunmer's (1986) simple view of reading and Scarborough's (2001) reading rope.
How do you use fruit vocabulary cards?
First, spark student curiosity by saying you're going to do some work with fruit. Discuss the fruits students like to eat and what they have seen inside them. Then, choose a few cards at a time and use the three-period lesson to name each fruit. Once students know the names, bring in real fruit: students can match each card to the real fruit, then cut it open and compare the inside to the photo. Then use the cards for sorting games, such as sorting fruit from vegetables (challenging). When students are reading, move on to the Fruit 3-Part Reading Cards.
What ages is this for?
Typically ages 3 and up. The cards work well for pre-readers and students in intervention settings. They are especially useful for English learners, since they cover everyday food words.
Watch a fruit vocabulary lesson
See how a Montessori teacher presents our Fruit Vocabulary cards in a lesson.
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