Montessori detective adjective with a twist
Lately I have been thinking JBug is about ready to begin exploring some of the Montessori grammar materials. I can’t afford to purchase them ($$$), so I am making my own versions. I’ve been working on the grammar box materials and I am almost ready to share them, but in the mean time I want to share my own version of the detective adjective game.
The detective adjective game (scroll down a bit) is usually played with 54 triangles of different shape, color and size, plus slips of paper on which are written clues like “the small, blue, obtuse-angled scalene triangle.” The child reads the clue, uses it to choose the correct triangle, then reads the next clue, chooses the triangle, etc. I thought about making all the necessary triangles for the game, but decided instead to just use what I had on hand—buttons!
So I got out the button jar and pulled out 40 different buttons. I sorted the buttons and wrote clues to distinguish each one. For example: “The smallest flat red button” or “the large brown flowered button.” Then I cut the clues apart, stored them in a little box with the 40 buttons, and that was that! I’ve stored them away for now, but as soon as we get to the adjective materials I will have a fun hands-on activity for her to do.
I was thinking about other ways this game could be made if you wanted to and don’t have lots of buttons. It could be easily done with shells, beads, coins from around the world (ex: “the small silver Chinese coin”), leaves, rocks, fabric scraps…anything really that you can have 40 or so distinctly different objects that vary in 3 or 4 characteristics. I think using the original triangles is great, but using other objects adds a bit of individual flair to the game, making it extra fun. Best of all…it’s practically free!
Filed under: language arts, montessori
Brilliant! Thank you
Love this idea!!
Great idea!! I think this will be a summer activity around here–I may have the 9 year old make the clues for the 7 year old.
Excellent idea – I’ll have to add it to my list of things to make.
VERY cool!
YOu are such a clever mama! What an excellent way to adapt the concept.
What a lovely way to learn adjectives.
PS just been browsing through the lovely Fairy Notebook. The last notebook Katie and Ben did was inspired by your Christmas one. We love doing lap/note books – they are brilliant to look through a few months later aren’t they? Going to peek at the Dragon one now.