How to Play the Montessori Noun Game

The Noun Game is a lesson used in Montessori schools that introduce students to formal grammar. The lesson should be played with the entire class at once, and many instructors say they are most successful with the activity when it is treated in a lively, joking manner. This game should first be introduced parallel to phonetic reading materials and lessons according to most Montessori curricula. If you're a parent who wants to play this game with your child at home, talk to your child's instructor before starting in order to make sure your child's home and school learning curricula are complementary.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Instruct students to sit in a circle. Some teachers start by talking about other things once the students are seated, so when they start the game, it appears spontaneous.

2. Ask students to retrieve various items. For example, you might say, "Andy, bring me an eraser. Cora, bring me a flower." Once the object has been brought back to the circle, the child should return to his spot. Repeat this as long as the students appear to be engaged. In Montessori learning, children are not generally compelled to actively participate in group games, but for this exercise you should try to involve as many children as possible.

3. Then say to all the students, "Now bring me a _____." Break off the sentence and let them guess what you want and then get it. They will bring you all sorts of objects. As you receive the objects, identify each object to the class by responding to each item that is not the item you have in mind by saying, "No, I did not want a flower (or whatever they brought you)."

4. Tell the students what you actually wanted. If no one guesses, then tell everyone what you had in mind. "Bring me a book," for example. You can then repeat this part of the game several times. This exercise gets children to unconsciously begin to understand the concept of a noun, because when you leave the name of the object (the noun) out of the sentence, no one knows what you are talking about.

5. Explain the definition of a noun. This step is optional. Many instructors and Montessori experts think that the unconscious learning inherent in this game is sufficient and should be supplemented later with additional lessons. Others disagree and think that the conclusion of the game is an ideal time to briefly introduce the notion of nouns. If you choose to do so, you can point out at the end of the game that no one was able to bring you the right thing until you gave it a name, and that a noun names something.

Tips & Warnings

• This game can be used over and over as it is a classroom favorite.
• If you play the noun game at home, consult your child's instructor to make sure that you are using the game in a way that parallels your child's work at school.

Resources

• Learn more about teaching Montessori lessons.

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on 6/26/2009 I believe the game is effective because the children get to learn the lesson in a fun way. I am a Sped teacher and am sure my students will love this.