How Nomenclature Cards Provide Vocabulary For Kids

Language development is a key part of Montessori education. Learning to read, often quite early, draws many parents to the Montessori method. Nomenclature cards are a wonderful way to make vocabulary words engaging for children of all ages. You can develop cards based on spelling words, your monthly school theme, or student interests.

📚 What Montessori says about nomenclature cards and vocabulary development: Maria Montessori designed nomenclature cards, which she called "three-part cards," as a cornerstone of her language curriculum. She believed that precise vocabulary is the foundation of clear thinking, and that children have a natural "sensitive period" for language acquisition between birth and age six during which vocabulary exposure has an outsized impact. Research on vocabulary development (Beck, McKeown, and Kucan, 2013, Bringing Words to Life) confirms that explicit, repeated exposure to words in meaningful contexts, exactly what nomenclature cards provide, produces significantly stronger vocabulary retention than incidental exposure alone. A 2008 study in Reading Research Quarterly found that children who received structured vocabulary instruction with visual supports showed vocabulary gains 40% greater than those receiving instruction without visual materials.

What Are Nomenclature Cards?

Nomenclature cards, also known as 3-part cards, are cards with a picture and a word or phrase underneath the picture. They are used to help with reading, language development, vocabulary, object identification, matching, and more. Typically first introduced in preschool, nomenclature cards can be used throughout elementary school as well.

These beautiful nomenclature cards are included in our flower and Garden-Themed Activity Pack. Grab your own set of these free Montessori printables to get started with your own nomenclature study.

How Do I Use Nomenclature Cards?

Nomenclature cards are used with the three-period lesson. Below is an example of how to use parts-of-a-flower cards. You will need two copies of each set of cards. One copy is referred to as the whole picture card, which has no line between the word and image. Some children may only work with the whole picture cards; children who can read will work with both sets.

🌿 Step-by-step: using nomenclature cards with the three-period lesson

Lay the whole picture card of roots in front of the child and say, "These are roots."
Have the child repeat the word "roots."
Continue with two more cards until you have three cards out.
Point to each card and say the name of the object.
Rearrange the three cards and repeat with the other two objects.
Point to an object and ask, "What is this?"If your child cannot give the name, tell them the name again and ask them to repeat it. Very young children may find this portion challenging, and that is perfectly fine.
Repeat the above steps with a unique combination of cards each time.For young children, you may choose to work with two cards at a time.
Repeat until the child has closure.
For older children who can read: get out the second set of nomenclature cards with the cut-out words. Repeat the process with the word portion only. Give the child the separated word and picture cards and allow them to match the word to the proper picture. Provide an additional set of whole cards so they can self-check their work. Repeat as needed until the child has closure.

Child using Montessori nomenclature cards

What Nomenclature Cards Are Common in Montessori Education?

Common lessons in Montessori early childhood education include:

📄 Popular nomenclature card topics

Parts of an apple
Parts of a pumpkin
Life cycle of a frog
Life cycle of an egg
Life cycle of a tree
States
Countries
World flags
US Presidents
Animals and their young
Parts of a flower
Landforms

Anything you would like can become a nomenclature card.

Families could make cards of relatives' faces and names, local landmarks, pets, or favorite objects. Teachers sometimes make cards of students' names and faces. They are easy to create in a word-processing program or through Canva. Simply find a picture of the item, Wikimedia Commons is a great resource, and write the word or phrase underneath. Typically words are lowercase and set in Century Gothic font.

Nomenclature cards are best used with the three-period lesson. Check out this video on how to use it: