Large movable alphabet: pink object box
What materials are needed for this activity?
For this activity, the directress uses The large movable alphabet, the felt-lined mat, and the Pink object box, (‘this box contains objects that are three-letter phonetic words), for example, cat, hen dog, etc.
Large Movable Alphabet: pink object box
How this activity is presented
The directress begins the activity by telling the child that they are going to build words for the different objects. She then introduces the pink object box to the child, and takes out an object, for example, a cat. The directress tells the child, ‘this is a cat’, and places it on the second line of the felt-lined mat.
She tells the child that they are going to build the word. She then asks him, “what is the first sound that you hear when I say the word cat?” putting emphasis on ‘c’. The child should then say ‘c’. He is encouraged to find the letter from the box and place it in-between the lines of the mat next to the object of the cat.
The directress continues in the same manner with ‘a’ and ‘t’, until the word ‘cat’ is built on the mat. Once the first word has been built, the directress introduces the remaining objects one by one from the box and repeats the process until all the words have been built next to their respective objects.
The directress ensures not to correct the child if he picks up an incorrect letter from the box, as well as she does not read the word back to the child once it has been built. She can guide him in the precise placements of the letters. This activity’s aim is for the child to learn that words are made up of sounds.
What does the child learn by doing this activity?
This activity helps to develop the child’s memory, it lays a foundation for correct spelling, as well as the child learns that words are made up of sounds.
The child should work through the pink object boxes until they have all been mastered. He should then move onto the picture boxes which are presented the same way, just with pictures instead of objects. Picture boxes are more abstract to the child than real objects, which he can hold and feel.
The Montessori language learning process
There is a step by step process for all language materials in a Montessori classroom. The directress must first complete the pink reading materials (three-letter phonetic words), then the blue reading materials (four or more letter phonetic words), and finally she moves on to the green reading materials (phonograms e.g. ee, th, sh, ay, ie etc).
The directress presents the Large movable alphabet: blue object box in the same manner as the pink box. The difference is there are now four or more letter words instead of three.
Looking for more Montessori activities?
Here is a list of all the Montessori Language activities. These include Early Language, Pink Language Materials, Green Language Materials, Later Language, and Grammar. Just click on the page you want to learn about to go there.