Introducing Vocabulary:

THE THREE PERIOD LESSON

This is the technique used in teaching new words to the children. It is only used for teaching words. The example illustrated here is the naming of the colors:

The teacher takes two color tablets, such as red and blue,

from Color Box 1. She takes one red tablet and one blue one

and puts them on the table in front of the child. She tells

him she is going to teach him the names.

FIRST PERIOD:

The teacher puts the tablets to one side. The teacher makes an

association between the quality and the name by taking up each

tablet in turn, placing it in front of the child and saying

several times:

 

"This is red....red."

 

She pauses a moment before saying "red" or "blue", (depending on

which color she is showing) and raises her voice slightly,

enunciating clearly.

 

She repeats until she thinks the child has made the association

between the color and the name.

SECOND PERIOD

She places the colors in front of the child.

 

In order to make sure that the child has understood and in order

to help him fix his knowledge, she asks him:

 

"Point to the blue."

"Point to the red."

 

She asks, again and again, sometimes mixing the tablets first,

sometimes asking for the same one a second time in succession. The

teacher tries to make it interesting and enjoyable. Each time the

teacher says "red" or "blue" the child has to make an association

in his mind of the name with the color. It is proof that the child

understands if he hands the teacher the correct color. If he makes

mistakes too often, she does not correct him but goes back to the

first stage of the lesson.

THIRD PERIOD:

Now, the teacher sees if the child can remember the name for

himself. She places the tablets to one side. Then, the teacher

puts one of the color tablets in front of the child. She asks him:

 

"What color is this?"

 

She does the same for the other color tablet. She asks the child

again several times for the name of the different colors. If the

child has done this easily, or on another day, the teacher

introduces the yellow color tablet. She places the yellow color

tablet in front of the child as in the First Period and names it

several times. Then, she uses the red, blue and yellow tablets in

the second and third stages of the lesson.

 

The three period lesson can be used to teach vocabulary related to any of the sensorial materials.

Note: When teaching positive, comparative, and superlative forms (i.e. tall, taller, tallest)

all three objects remain in front of the child during the lesson, because we are teaching close

comparisons. The teacher should always present and ask for these objects in order.

 

Cylinders

Tall - Short; Thick - Thin; Large - Small

Deep - Shallow (with the sockets)

Tall - Taller - Tallest; Short - Shorter - Shortest

Thick - Thicker - Thickest

Large - Larger - Largest; Thin - Thinner - Thinnest

Deep - Deeper - Deepest; Small - Smaller - Smallest

Shallow - Shallower - Shallowest

Knobless Cylinders

Same as cylinders

Pink Tower

Large - Small

Large - Larger - Largest

Small - Smaller - Smallest

Broad Stair

Broad - Narrow

Narrow - Narrower - Narrowest

Broad, Broader, Broadest

Thick - Thin; Thick - Thicker - Thickest

Wide - Wider - Widest

Long Rods

Long - Short

Long - Longer - Longest

Short - Shorter - Shortest

 

Color Tablets

The names of the colors

Light - Dark (with graded box)

Light - Lighter - Lightest

Dark - Darker - Darkest

 

Sound Boxes

Loud - Soft

Loud - Louder - Loudest

Soft - Softer - Softest

 

Touch Boards

Rough - Smooth

 

Fabrics

The names of the different materials..

Linen, Cotton, Silk, etc.

 

Baric Tablets

Light - Heavy (two most contrasting boxes)

 

Bells

Names of the notes

 

 

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