Command Cards (Action Cards)
Command cards each name an action, from "hop" to "bring me the red pencil", for a child of about 5 to 7.5 to read silently and then do. On October 5, 2026 printed sets cost $8.00 to $26.60 at the US sellers we checked. Paper slips in a basket are Montessori's own version.
The first lesson with it is Command Cards (Reading of Commands). Not sure your child is ready for it? Two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
| Area | Language |
|---|---|
| Used in | |
| From age | 5 to 7.5 years |
| Make it | Easy to make at home |
| Buy it | About $8 to $27 (noted ) |
What the command cards (action cards) is for
The child draws a card, reads it without speaking, and does what it says while others guess. Single verbs come first. Short phrases follow, and whole sentences with puzzle words come last.
Montessori described this game in 1912: long commands written on cards and folded slips, read in silence and carried out. Her 1917 book used printed commands to teach grammar.
| Part | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Single verbs | Hop, clap, sit, nod; Alison's action cards have 58, Nienhuis's set 150 |
| Sentence commands | One, two and three steps; Alison's command cards have 20 of each |
| Basket | For folded slips, so each command stays secret until read |
The lessons that use the command cards (action cards)
Command Cards (Reading of Commands)
5 to 7.5 yearsReading a card in silence that names an action, such as hop or "bring me the red pencil", and showing the reading was understood by doing it.
Buying one: 3 listings checked October 5, 2026
| Seller and set | Made of | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alison's MontessoriAction Cards, Printed (L409)58 single-verb cards, 2.3 by 2.6 inches, red outline. Labelled ages 6 to 9. | 65 lb card stock | $8.00 |
| Alison's MontessoriCommand Cards, Printed (L408)60 cards: 20 one-step, 20 two-step and 20 three-step commands. Lamination and cutting cost extra. | 65 lb card stock | $12.00 |
| NienhuisSimple Commands: Set 1 (565300)150 one-word verb cards: 60 black on red and 90 red on white. | Paper | $26.60 |
- Alison's two printed sets together cost $20.00 and cover single verbs and sentences. They arrive as sheets to cut unless you pay for cutting.
- Check that the first cards use words the child can sound out: hop, sit, nod. Long words too early turn the game into a guessing match.
- Montessori Outlet sold only boxes for command cards, and Montessori Services a broader grammar set, when we looked. The Montessori Room had none.
- Alison's labels both sets for ages 6 to 9. The single-verb action cards suit a 5-year-old who reads short words.
Making the command cards (action cards) at home
What to gather
- Paper slips or index cards
- A marker
- A small basket
| Piece | Size and marking | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Slips | About 10 by 5 cm | 20 to start |
- 1Write ten single verbs the child can sound out: hop, clap, sit, nod, run, hum, jog, tap, wink, sip.
- 2Write ten short commands with puzzle words: "Pat the rug." "Go to the door."
- 3Fold each slip once and put them in the basket.
- 4Add longer commands as the child's reading grows.
Keeping a full set on the shelf
- Retire slips that are worn soft from folding.
- Sort cards by length, so a beginner draws only from the short ones.
Questions parents ask about the command cards (action cards)
What's the difference between action cards and command cards?
Action cards usually carry one verb, such as hop. Command cards carry a phrase or sentence. Both are read silently and acted out.
Can I make my own command cards?
Yes. Montessori's first commands were handwritten slips folded into a basket.
What words go on the first command cards?
Short verbs the child can sound out: hop, clap, sit, nod, run. Add puzzle words and full sentences later.
Before the command cards (action cards), make sure the work before it is solid. The puzzle words (sight words) lesson lists the signs that a child is ready to move on.