Description

Children always enjoy comparing one thing to another.  The Degrees of Comparison activity, does just this, and more.  A comparative adjective is the part of speech used to describe the positive noun word that will be compared to another, similar object, and then there is the best, the Superlative!

• the positive adjective describes the initial noun
• comparative adjectives are achieved by just adding -er to the adjective that describes the positive noun; with exceptions
• superlative adjectives are achieved by normally adding -est to the adjective that descries the positive noun
• however, if the positive adjective ends in ‘y’, then the y is changed to an ‘i’ and the ending becomes -ier, or -iest
• there are, however, exceptions to the rule; and these must be learnt

The Child matches the word card to the relevant header card.

Examples of the Degrees of Comparison

Objectives

• the direct objective of this material:
  • the Child understands how an adjective changes to compare one noun to another; or to describe a noun that is of higher or lesser value than the original noun
• indirectly, the Child
  • improves their vocabulary and reading skills
  • the Child understands the function of degrees of comparison
  • gain self-confidence, direction and discipline
• teacher should incorporate materials from the different environments to illustrate how degrees of comparison work
  • link back to the top 3 smallest cubes from the pink tower, small, smaller and smallest
  • or link to the red rod;  long, longer, longest
• aligned to the Montessori language curriculum
• the Child is introduced to the concept of categorising words

Contents and Dimensions

• 3 header cards – 6 cm x 2 cm / (2¼” x ¾”)
• 30 word cards
• A6 transparent, plastic envelope, to store and display the cards on the shelves – 18 cm x 13 cm x 0.5 cm / (7″ x 5″ x ¼”)

Related Products

• The Montessori Pink Reading Series is the first series in the Montessori Language curriculum
• The Montessori Blue Reading Series is the second series in the reading range
• teach the function of verbs and how to use them with the Verb Tenses Box

Further Reading and References

• What are the degrees of comparison? written by Craig Shrives
• learn some rules and points when using the 3 Degrees of Comparison