What is a Three Period Lesson?


The Three Period Lesson is a teaching technique originally developed by Eduard Seguin, a French physician, in the 19th century.  Maria Montessori started using this technique to enhance language acquisition and concept learning. This method is widely used in Montessori education to teach vocabulary, concepts, and skills. The lesson is divided into three distinct periods: Naming, Recognition, and Recall. This approach helps the child to internalise new information through repetition and active engagement.

The Three Period Lesson consists of three stages:

  1. First Period: Naming (Introduction)
  2. Second Period: Recognition (Association)
  3. Third Period: Recall (Confirmation)

Each period serves a specific purpose in the learning process, guiding the child from initial exposure to mastery.

Detailed Explanation of Each Period:

First Period: Naming (Introduction)

Objective: Introduce new vocabulary or concepts.

Process:

  • The Teacher introduces the new item by naming it clearly.
  • The Teacher may say “This is a ____,” while pointing to or holding up the object.
  • This stage is about direct instruction, clear communication and isolation of the object. This first stage can be repeated several times until the child repeats names the object correctly.

For example, if doing a lesson using the Colour box 1, the Teacher might show a red tablet  and say, “This is red.” 

The importance of the First Period is that it lays the foundation for understanding by providing the correct terminology and it ensures that the child has a clear reference point for future learning.

Second Period: Recognition (Association)

Objective: Help the child recognise and associate the name with the item.

Process:

  • The Teacher asks the child to identify the object among a group.
  • The Teacher might say “Can you show me the ___?” 
  • The child must differentiate and select the correct object.

For example, if we continue with the Colour box 1, the Teacher might place a red, blue and yellow tablet in front of the child and ask, “Can you show me red?”.

This Period reinforces the connection between the name and the object and it also encourages active participation and cognitive processing. The child makes a link between the name and the object itself.

Third Period: Recall (Confirmation)

Objective: Confirm the child’s ability to recall the name of the item independently.

Process:

  • The Teacher asks the child to name the object without prompts.
  • The Teacher might point to the object and ask, “What is this?”

For instance, with the Colour box 1, the Teacher would place in front of the child the red tablet and ask, “What is this?” and accept whatever answer the child gives, correct or wrong.

This final Period confirms that the child has internalised the knowledge.

If the child does not respond correctly, the teacher can then plan to repeat the Three Period Lesson at a different time.