Materials:

 

·        black pyramid

·        pictures of pyramids

·        coal

·        paper symbol for noun

·        paper for labeling

·        black marker

 

Emphasis:

 

1.      To discover the definition of nouns.

 

2.      To teach Dr. Montessori’s rationale behind having the black pyramid represent the noun.

 

3.      To give the child a strong multi-sensory experience to connect to the concept of nouns.

 

Warm-up:

 

1.      Have each child in the small group bring an object of their choice to the table.

 

2.      Point to each child’s object and ask, “What is the name of this thing?”  Write the names as they tell you.

 

Application:

 

1.      Tell the children you need something else, but do not tell them the name of the object.  “I need a _______.”

 

2.      After several guesses ask them why they could not bring you what you wanted.  Explain that you did not give them the name of the item. “All objects have names and the naming words are called nouns.”

 

3.      The word ‘noun’ comes from the Latin word ‘nomen’ which means name.  Write the etymology on a slip of paper as you explain it to the children.

 

4.      “Dr. Montessori thought very hard about a way to help boys and girls understand nouns.  She knew that nouns were probably the oldest part of speech.”  Discuss how babies learn to talk and usually say things like “bottle” or “cookie.”  “Dr. Montessori chose the black pyramid as a symbol for the noun, because a pyramid with a large base (show the base) is very strong and the noun is a very strong word. The Great Pyramids (show pictures of pyramids) have lasted many thousands of years despite powerful winds and rains.  Nothing has destroyed those pyramids.  The color black reminds us of coal.  Coal is very old like the noun is old.

 

Coal was formed millions of years ago from the decaying swamp trees of the Carboniferous period.  The large black pyramid is our symbol for the noun.  It is one of the largest grammar symbols, because it is very important.  It is black, because it is old.  It is a pyramid because it is strong.”

 

5.       Using the paper symbol, dramatically slip off the face off the pyramid to show the child how we transfer from the three dimensional symbol to the two dimensional symbol.

 

Closure:

 

“What do nouns do?”  (They name things.)

 

Follow-up:

 

Use the function drawers to teach different types of nouns (i.e. person/place/thing, concrete/abstract, singular/plural, masculine/feminine)

 

Extensions:

 

1.      Allow the child to create lists or a notebook of nouns.

 

2.      Allow the child to do beginning level research with a partner about pyramids, coal, or the Carboniferous Period

 

3.      Encourage the child to listen to babies and see if the words they say are nouns.