Updated Sep 5, 2019. Originally published Sep. 6, 2011.
Making Montessori 3-Part Cards
Making Montessori 3-Part Cards3-part cards are a big part of the Montessori tradition, but when I went looking for a template to my my own, I couldn’t find one — so I made one and I’m sharing it here. (There probably is one elsewhere, but if I had a hard time finding it, surely someone else did, too!)
What Are Montessori 3-Part Cards?
If you came here specifically looking for this template, you probably already know what they are, but in case you’re thinking, “well, that looks cool, but what is it?” let me fill you in. Montessori’s 3-part cards aren’t exactly cards with three parts; they’re more like card sets with three parts.
Each trio consists of an image (on the square card), a caption (on the strip-shaped card), and then a “control card” that looks exactly like the other two stuck together — it’s basically the answer key. Students learn to match the words (or phrases) to the images they describe, and are able to independently check their work thanks to the control card. (This ability to self-check is a key element of Montessori-style education. It encourages independent exploration and learning.) They are often used together with Montessori’s 3-Period Lesson.
(You can see examples of some of these types of cards in this post about Montessori materials from around the web.)
The Template
A useful template for these cards, then, needs to let you paste (or type) in words and images, while maintaining the sizes and shapes you need for everything to match. Because it needs to be editable, I’ve made this a Word document. (I’ve kept it in the older-style Word format because I believe it’s more widely compatible with both older and newer software.)
If you copy-and-paste the contents of the first two fields at the top-left into the first two at the top-right, you should have a matching set of cards and control cards. Then do the same for the bottom rows for a second set of cards.
(There is also a PDF, in case you are unable to use the Word document, but if you use that you’ll have to glue images onto your printout by hand.)
What do you do with these?
Rachel, thank you for sharing this template. I have admired others handiwork at making their own 3-part cards for playing matching or memory games with and helping teach vocabulary.
I’m glad you’re able to use it!
I do still need to put up another post explaining what to do with these, for those who aren’t yet familiar. 🙂
it is a wonderful way for children to learn the part of animals/plants/objects and become aware of the many attributes of nature.
There is a control card which contains a picture and a label for the picture
there is a picture card that matches the picture in the control card
there is a word card that matches the word in the control card.
for example: A Duck: Title card: Duck part cards: bill, webbed feet, wing, neck, body, tail, eye
Title control card can be blank(without color) or with color. The picture card has to match
the parts cards have to highlight only the part that is labeled
Children get to match then create a book of their own with a black line drawing that matches the title page. They color and label each part then bind it in a wonderful fashion so that they own the book (and they are so proud). I love the three part cads
Thank you – have just done my first set using your template 🙂
Thank you! Was just about to make this myself!
Lauren
Thank you very much for the template 🙂
You’re very welcome!