Beginner's Guide to Printing Nomenclature Cards

Save money and stretch your homeschool budget by printing your own nomenclature cards. As so many homeschool families discover, kids respond beautifully to 3-part cards — learning, sorting, and playing games with them. But buying printed sets for every new subject can become pricey. Here is how to print your own.

ShillerLearning Digital Nomenclature Cards

You can buy digital files of professionally produced nomenclature cards from ShillerLearning and print them yourself. If you are new to Montessori nomenclature cards, detailed instructions and extension activities for a variety of ages and abilities are included with each set.

After you successfully print your first beautiful set of cards, you will be unstoppable. Nomenclature cards are used from preschool on up. Here are two sets to get you started:

• US President Nomenclature Cards — perfect for President's Day and year-round civics
• World Flags Nomenclature Cards — flags of countries and territories around the world, grouped and color-coded by continent

About the World Flags Set

This set includes flags of countries and territories around the world, grouped and color-coded by continent and organized alphabetically. The color-coded borders make it easy for your child to keep the continents organized, and the cards coordinate with Montessori-colored continent maps and materials — perfect for a world tour of the continents and continent boxes.

Also included: a 24-page World Flags Nomenclature Card Guide with introduction, printing tips, a how-to guide for nomenclature cards, a printable blackline continent map for coloring or painting, and 7 printable color-coded continent charts with each country's common name, official name, and country of control (for territories). This set will grow with your child over many years and skill levels.

Method 1: Printing on 3x5 Cards

Many printers include an option to print on 3x5 cards, which is ideal. If you have never done it before, try 1 or 2 cards first to make sure your settings are correct before sending a full batch.

Printing instructions with screenshots are included with each set of cards, but here is a personal walkthrough:

1. Open the PDF file and choose Print to access your printer's dialog box.
2. Go to Advanced Settings and choose Paper Size. Look for a "3x5 index card" setting. Most Epson Workforce printers have this option. If your printer does not, look for a 4x6 option (a common photo size).
3. Set Scale to "Fit to printable area."
4. Choose Color for vibrant, beautiful cards.
5. Under Pages, choose "Custom" and print just pages 1-2 first to confirm your settings before printing the full set.

Method 2: Printing Multiple Cards on 8.5x11 Sheets

This is how most nomenclature card designs are traditionally printed, but it involves a bit more prep work. Each card is cut out, then the picture and label parts are cut apart.

• Print on cardstock for a sturdier, more durable result
• Use a paper cutter to keep cards uniform — they are much more pleasing to use when cut to the same exact size
• Select 4, 6, or 8 cards per page depending on how large or small you would like your cards — the card outlines become your cutting lines
• Lamination is a nice touch, but note that it creates sharper edges and corners — families with younger children sometimes prefer to skip it

It is beyond the scope of this article to give specific directions for every printer, but if you take the time with your first set to figure out your settings, you will save a great deal of time in the long run — and have beautiful, professional-quality cards to show for it.

See Inside Our Language Arts Kits

Nomenclature cards pair beautifully with ShillerLearning's Language Arts Kits, which include the 3-period lesson framework, multisensory activities, and materials designed to grow with your child.

Language Arts Kit A
Pre-K – 1st Grade

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Language Arts Kit B
1st – 4th Grade

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