“Children have a kind of instinct, a special sensibility, which urges them to acquire new words. Between three and five years especially, the child's mind continues to absorb words.”

DR. MARIA MONTESSORI

What are nomenclature cards and why do we use them in the Montessori classrooms?  The definition of nomenclature is "the devising or choosing of names for things, especially in a science or other discipline."  We use these classified cards in our environment to aid the child in vocabulary enrichment and learning the names of objects in the world around them.  In the Montessori classroom, we have various sets or groups of nomenclature cards.  Initially, we use these sets with just a picture as a form of building vocabulary.  The sets are classified into categories of the child's immediate environment, such as names of winter clothing or types of root vegetables; the second category includes the child's outer environment, such as things around town or things on a farm; the third category presents cultural, like botany (parts of a flower or names of spring flowers) or zoology (parts of a horse or names of animals in Africa). The nomenclature cards can be presented individually or with a small group.  The various categories are revisited when the child recognizes the names of the items and can read. 

The reading sets of nomenclature cards include three pieces: the picture, a word label with the name and a card with both the label and picture.  These are introduced individually to the child.  Remember at this point the child has already learned the names of this set.  The picture cards are named and laid individually on the work rug.  Next the child reads each label and places it with the corresponding picture.  The last piece of the set, with the picture and label, is used as a control card.  The child is then able to check the work to verify the correct label was placed with the corresponding picture card. 

The nomenclature cards are wonderful language enrichment materials in our Montessori classroom.  They aid the child in extended vocabulary and later when reading!