In Montessori, children are taught -- as much as possible -- with concrete materials. This is true whether a child is learning about math, science or, in this case, to read. Montessori language objects are small objects used for a variety of purposes. Everything from starting to identify the beginning sounds of words, to decoding larger sentences language objects make the act of reading concrete.
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Kids tend to love these miniature objects. They are so tiny {most of mine are under 1 inch} and just fun. However, to buy an entire set of these language objects is pricey. Therefore, I've been on the hunt for the perfect objects for a long time.
A: Alligator, Airplane, Ant
B: Bat {sport}, broccoli, bell, bat {animal}, bib, button, bike, ball, brush
C: Cat, candy, cup, cow, cap, car, candle, cauliflower
D: Dog, dish, drum, duck, dolphin
E: Elf, eagle, elk, egg, eggplant
F: Fox, fan, football, flower, fork, flipflop, fish
It's hard to know exactly the objects that you will need when you start your collection. I have tried to find at least one for every letter of the alphabet, and as many as I can to fit with the Montessori pink series {cvc words}. I'm still gathering objects to fit the blue and green series so I'm prepared as Hen moves up.
G: Giraffe, goat, gem, gorilla, glove, girl
H: Hat, house, horse, heart
I: Ice cream
J: Jack, jars, jug
K: Key
L: Ladybug, log, Lego, lips
I've searched every where for these objects! Thrift store, dollar stores, junk drawers and craft stores. Even gumball machines aren't off limits! Many of these are mini-erasers, from button sets, or parts of other toys we have around the house. If one small accessory won't be missed, I often place it with our collection.
M: Moon, map, mug, mirror, man, mushroom, mat
N: Net, nut {food}, notebook, nut {tool}
O: Otter, Ox, Owl, Okapi
P: Pail, pin {clothes}, pot {planting}, pot {cooking}, pan, pin {bowling}, pup, pepper, pop, pelican, pig
Q: Q-tip
R: Rug, rose, rolling pin, ring, razor, rabbit, rocking horse
These tiny little objects are more places than you think. But, it does take patience and time. If you are short on either, then purchasing a set may be worth the money. When searching for these objects, quality often isn't at the top of my list. Although many of these things are quite nice, I'm really just looking for tiny objects that fit the sound or word I need -- it doesn't have to last forever. And, sometimes, I get creative and make the object I'm search for.
S: Snake, strawberry, shark, spool, scissors, spoon
T: Top, thermos, tiger, tomato
U: Umbrella
V: Vase
W: Web, wolf, whale, whisk
X: X-ray
Y: Yarn, yellow
Z: Zebra
So, what do you do with these objects once you have them? I start with using them to teach letter sounds. This can be done in a lot of different ways, but often involves matching them with sandpaper letters. We personally play a lot of games with our sound-object box and a lot of i-spy games. Now that Henry is working on the pink series and getting closer to reading, we do a lot more with the objects.
And, there's our collection! Happy hunting for your own! I hope you have as much fun finding and using them as we do.
Have you used language objects? Where do you find them?
If you liked this post, don't miss; Montessori Homeschool Classroom; DIY Montessori Flag Pin Map
