Matching is a classical Montessori learning activity that focuses on matching different objects in 3D to 2D cards. A perfect example of this activity can be prepared with miniature animals and matching realistic photo cards. 

Cards

Our Montessori animal match game cards are well suited for Montessori Environments. They are clear, realistic, and with understandable photographs of isolates images.

Download our free printables here

How to play

1. Matching Activity

Create an invitation to play using a large tray to hold the cards and the animals, and a smaller tray to hold the animal figurines inside.

Place the animals in the left and the cards to the right to mimic a reading motion from left to right.

Let your child review all the cards, all the animals figurines and try to match which add goes with which animal.

2. Memory Game

Print two sets of the animal cards and create a memory game! This can be a fun activity for the whole family on a game night.

3. Animal Kingdom and Habitats

Around 2-3 years old kids can start learning where each animal lives in the wild. Yes, we might find them at the zoo but in the wild where could we find them. Use the cards to learn about these different habitats and create activities around that.

4. Animal Parts

The elephant has a trunk… can you identify the tusk? Animals have lots of names for their different body parts, use these realistic animal cards to practice and learn these.

5. Storytelling 

As pretend play and storytelling starts to develop so does your child's imagination and ability to express themselves. Create stories with these animal cards, use them in sensory bins and as figures while you read a book that features any of these animals.

Advanced Matching

With older children you can try a more challenging activity with more advanced preschool matching.

Select photos that are not an exact copy of the animals so children need to carefully observe details to match correctly. Children problem solve by looking at distinctive attributes that they can see on both the object and the photo.

Usually they will start by color and eliminate pictures that do not share the same color. They can also look at shapes, patterns and details. They might ask themselves "what fish has spots?" or "which fish is long and skinny?".

Most likely they will notice more than one fish with spots and have to look at another attribute. Recognizing these little details helps a child grow their category knowledge and learn new vocabulary!

Cards

Our Montessori animal match game cards are well suited for Montessori Environments. They are clear, realistic, and with understandable photographs of isolates images.

 Download our free printables here