Phonogram sandpaper letters
What materials are needed for this activity?
For this activity, the directress uses two sandpaper letters and one phonogram sandpaper letter. The phonogram sandpaper letters are on a green board. The directress also needs the sensitizing tray for this activity, as the child’s hands need to be sensitized.
The directress does a three-period lesson with the child to teach him the shapes of the phonograms by tracing them as well as the sounds they make.
How a three-period lesson is done with the Phonogram sandpaper letters
The directress invites the child to work with her and chooses two sandpaper letters and one phonogram sandpaper letter, that does not look or sound the same. The directress, with the child’s assistance, takes the letters to the table and places them face down on the mat. The directress sensitizes the child’s fingers.
First period: the directress brings forward one letter at a time, she traces the letter with her right hand, using her index and middle fingers, while holding the sandpaper letter board firmly with her left hand. She then sounds out the letter for the child and finally invites him to fell the letter and say the sound.
She turns the letter upside-down and places it on the right-hand side below the pile. The directress repeats in the same manner with the other two letters.
Second period: the directress spends a great deal of time in this period practicing the sounds with the child. She places all three letters on the mat and asks him to show her different letters she calls out for.
Third period: the directress places one letter at a time in front of the child and asks him what each letter.
The directress consolidates the lesson by placing all three letters in front of the child reinforcing what was learnt that day.
What skills does the child acquire by doing a three-period lesson with the Phonogram sandpaper letters?
This activity prepares the child for writing phonograms and it makes the child aware of the phonogram’s sound for reading writing.
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.