Article

Article
Language - Grammar
Level	Primary
Age	5.5 +
Prerequisites	Noun Noun - Person, Place, Thing
Materials	2-4 of a type of object 2-4 of another type of object 1 of an object 1 of another object writing tray (pencil, red pencil, slips of paper, scissors) Grammar Symbol set

In this activity the child is introduced to the concept of articles.

Presentation

In this example, the objects are 2 rocks, 3 buttons, 1 pinecone, and 1 spool. Just about anything could be used as long as the words begin with consonants.

1. Take the material to a mat or table.

   

2. "Could you give me a rock?"
   "That's right. Either one would have been fine because there is more than one."
   Set the rock on the table near the left side.

   

3. "May I please have a rock?
   The child should hand you the other rock.
   Place this below the first.

   

4. Continue by asking for the buttons one at a time in the same way:
   "Could you please give me a button?"

   

5. "Could you please give me the pinecone?"
   "Will you please hand me the spool?"

   

6. "Now, instead of saying the word, I'm going to write you a message."
   Write down the word 'rock.' Give it to the child.
   "The word could go with either one."

   

7. Write labels for the rest of the objects and have the child place them.

   

8. "This is a rock. We have more than one, so we say a."
   Write 'a' in red on a slip of paper and have the child place it before one of the correct words.

   

9. "This is the pinecone. There's only one, so we say the."
   Write 'the' in red on a slip of paper and have the child place it before the correct word.

   

10. Continue writing 'a' or 'the' on slips of paper, and have the child place them where they go.

    

11. "Let's get the grammar symbols and mark what kinds of words these each are."
    "First let's mark the nouns. Which words are the names of the things?"
    Place the black triangles over the nouns.
    "We use this symbol for these words." Show the small blue triangle.
    "These types of words are called articles."
    Label all the articles.

    

12. The labels can then be put in the tray with the items in the tray so the child can do the work independently later. (Printed labels could also be used.)

    

Variations and Extensions

• If the child knows the difference between consonants and vowels, you could make a version in which every object is either 'a' something or 'an' something.

Material

One inch wide strips seems to be a good width for the paper labels.

Make Your Own

Free printable Grammar Symbols (black outlines, print on the appropriate color of cardstock and cut out):

• 

  Grammar Symbols

Grammar symbols could be cut out of card-stock, craft foam, or plastic (maybe from plastic lids).

Stencil

• 3D printable version by jbnimble on Thingiverse

Where to Buy

Prices and links checked: 23 January 2022

Basic Grammar Symbols Box
Store	Price
Adena	$20.92
Affordable Montessori	$39.00
Alison's	$27.56
Alison's	$54.60
Alison's	$46.00
Bruins	$85.00
E & O	$35.10
ETC Montessori no box?	$30.00
IFIT	$23.00
Kid Advance	$22.99
Leader Joy	$24.95
Materials Co. of Boston small	$65.00
Materials Co. of Boston	$65.00
Materials Co. of Boston	$75.00
Montessori Concepts	$25.00
Montessori Outlet no box	$9.95
Montessori Outlet box only	$13.95
Thinkamajigs	$32.95
Waseca	$70.00

Basic & Advanced Grammar Symbol Set
Store	Price
Alison's plastic	$58.00
Alison's	$46.00
Nienhuis plastic	$94.55

Box for Both Sets
Store	Price
Montessori Outlet	$15.95
Nienhuis	$57.75

Advanced Grammar Symbols only
Store	Price
Adena	$17.92
ETC Montessori no box?	$28.00
Materials Co. of Boston	$40.00
Montessori Outlet	$7.95

Grammar Symbols Stencil
Store	Price
Affordable Montessori for 2	$6.00
Albanesi for 5 large	$52.00
Albanesi for 5 small	$52.00
Alison's for 2	$6.82
ETC Montessori	$8.10
Mandala	$10.00
Montessori Outlet	$3.95
Nienhuis	$8.10
Waseca	$5.00

Grammar Symbols Stamps
Store	Price
Alison's	$29.95
Great Extensions	$55.00

3D Basic Grammar Symbols
Store	Price
Adena	$20.92
Alison's	$37.48
Bruins	$90.00
E & O	$120.60
IFIT	$28.00
Kid Advance	$65.99
Leader Joy no base	$26.95
Leader Joy	$34.95
Materials Co. of Boston no base	$55.00
Montessori Concepts	$38.00
Montessori Outlet no base	$28.95
Montessori Outlet base only	$8.95
Montessori Outlet	$57.95
Nienhuis	$183.90
Thinkamajigs	$45.95

3D Noun and Verb
Store	Price
Adena	$10.92
Affordable Montessori	$17.00
Alison's	$16.53
Bruins	$40.00
E & O	$15.30
Kid Advance	$11.99
Leader Joy	$15.95
Materials Co. of Boston	$48.00
Montessori Concepts	$13.00
Montessori Outlet	$13.95
Nienhuis Noun only	$28.30
Nienhuis Verb only	$28.30
Thinkamajigs	$17.95