Montessori Materials for Parts of the Starfish Activity

Once the child has learned about the different types of invertebrates, particularly the Echinoderms, they might be interested in learning about the parts of the starfish.

Starfish have a circular body shape, with body parts arranged around a center point. They can regenerate lost body parts and even entire bodies from just one arm. They use tube feet to move, grab onto things, and catch prey.

Before learning about their parts, have the child observe an actual starfish (or a model) to help them have a more concrete grasp on the subject.

Table of Contents

Materials to Support Learning the Parts of the Starfish
Printable Activities to Learn the Parts of the Starfish
Explore Other Parts of Invertebrates
Explore Other Parts of Vertebrates

Materials to Support Learning the Parts of the Starfish

Small Starfishes

Starfish 4-6″

Starfish Model

You can use the starfish object from this set:

You can also provide printable materials to support this learning and help the child know the different parts of the starfish.

Printable Activities to Learn the Parts of the Starfish

The Parts of a Starfish Activity helps kids improve their reading skills and learn the right names for animal parts, which helps them build their vocabulary. It also allows the child to know some of the starfish’s features. This also encourages the appreciation for nature.

1. Montessori Zoology 5-Part Nomenclature Cards

This learning material have a pink border around each card. Color coding is used to tell apart the different phyla of the Animal Kingdom in Montessori. The color pink is used to identify the phylum of echinoderms, such as the starfish.

This includes a set of cards with 5 parts including the definitions and a booklet with descriptions about each part of the starfish. This is designed for children between the ages of 3 and 6.

Material

Each part of the starfish has a set of 5 cards made up of:
1. Control card – contains the picture and label; it allows the child to SELF-CORRECT when matching the picture card and the label card.
2. Picture card – allows the child to focus on the image alone to examine the details better. It can also be matched to the control card for non-reading learners to help them engage in learning each of the cards individually.
3. Label card – aids in name identifying, reading, spelling, and writing. It is matched to the picture card and the child determines correctness using the control card.
4. Definition card – serves as the control card for matching the blank definition card with the label card.
5. Blank definition card – provides an engaging activity for the child to better remember the definitions. This is matched to the label card and the control card with image and label.

Prerequisite

– Some experience with an actual starfish (or a model), if possible (See above)
– Child should make observations for a week of each part of the starfish

Control of Error

– Control Cards

Direct Aims

– learn about the different parts of the starfish
– develop their understanding of the definition of these parts

Indirect Aims

– Improve child’s vocabulary
– Develop reading skills
– Learn the basics of zoology

Presentation

The Montessori guide teaches children how to use Zoology Nomenclature Cards through two presentations

– First, the guide lays out the control cards and demonstrates how to match the picture and label to the control.
– Next, the student matches the pictures and labels, and checks their work with the control of error cards.
– Use the definition card to describe each part.
– Once the children are familiar with the definitions of the parts of the starfish, give them the corresponding definitions to match with the pictures.
– Then allow the child to match the blank definition card with the label card.

Zoology Nomenclature Cards are unique to Montessori classrooms and provide an engaging alternative to textbooks and worksheets. They are a beautiful resource that encourages children to learn concepts, rather than rush through to finish a worksheet.

Get the Cards & BOOKleTs here

2. Control Chart and Fill-in Posters

After learning the individual parts of the starfish, display the wall chart and invite the child to make her own wall chart of the parts of the sponge with these printable poster sheets of 3 different charts:

With color and label
Without color, with label
Without color, without label

starfish montessori zoology invertebrates starfish 5 part cards anatomy

*Sign-up to our newsletter and get the control charts for free! Or get these in a bundle with other vertebrates control charts HERE at $2/set!

3. Montessori Zoology Definitions Booklets

Material

1. Reference Booklet, provides an overview of the activity, including colored parts of the starfish, label, and definition on each page
2. Blank Booklet, for when the child is interested to make his own. This includes outlines of the starfish for the child to color, spaces for the label and the definition on each page.

Prerequisite

– Discussion on the parts of the starfish with nomenclature cards

Control of Error

– Control Booklet

Presentation

– Present the reference booklet that the child can use for review.
– Invite the child to make his own booklet, using the blank booklet which he can color and write the labels and definitions on.
Note: For a pre-writing child, you can also opt to print another set of the definitions and have the child attach the definitions to the corresponding part drawn/colored in the booklet.

Get the Booklets & cards here

For further work on the Echinoderms, you can introduce another animal in the phylum and study the different parts with nomenclature cards as well.