Garden Flowers Vocabulary

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.

First, spark student curiosity by saying you're going to do some work with garden flowers. Take a walk through a garden, or discuss the flowers students have seen growing near their homes. Then, choose a few cards at a time and use the three-period lesson to name each flower. Once students know the names, bring in real flowers: students can match each card to its flower, then use the flowers for flower arranging. Then use the cards for sorting games, such as sorting flowers from our Fruit Vocabulary cards. When students are reading, move on to the Garden Flowers 3-Part Reading Cards.

Typically ages 3 and up. The cards work well for pre-readers, English learners, and students in intervention settings, as well as older students with a special interest in flowers and gardening.