I’m sharing 21 ideas for teaching vocabulary. You may not be able to use all of them, but I hope you can find some ideas that will work well for you!
I’ve shared books about vocabulary instruction, as well as the theory and techniques. This post is a lot more practical. We’re all about ideas today!
IDEA #1: Semantic Maps
In this activity, the teacher chooses a word and displays it for the class on a whiteboard, etc..
Students read the word and then think of words that come to mind when they see that word (this is awesome because it activates prior learning).
IDEA #2: Tweet
Have students create a “tweet” that a word would send out or with the word in the tweet in context. You can use a tool like Fake Tweet Generator to make it look real.
A list is created of all of the words that come to mind, and then those words are categorized. This can be done as a whole class or in small groups. Students then create a “map” using a graphic organizer and discuss it. Additional or substitute categories can be suggested.
As students read through the text, they can add related words to the map.
IDEA #3: Eye Spy
Give students a list of words to search for in a text or have them find unfamiliar words. You can award points to the words based on different criteria (longest new word, word with most consonants, etc.). Invest in a set of inexpensive dollar store magnifying glasses to make this more game-like. Do this as a pre-reading activity.
IDEA #4: Making Choices
Students show their understanding of vocabulary by saying the word when it applies, or remaining silent when it doesn’t.
For example: “Say radiant if any of these things would make someone look radiant.”
-Winning a million dollars.
-Earning a gold medal.
-Walking to the post office.
-Cleaning your room.
-Having a picture you painted hung in the school library. (This idea is from the book Bringing Words to Life, recommended in the books section.)
IDEA #5: Sorting Hat
Use a Harry Potter theme to have students sort words into categories. They can pull them out of a hat. If you give them the categories, it’s called a “closed sort.” If they come up with their own categories, it’s called “open sort.”
IDEA #6: Word Pairs
Give students words in pairs and have them evaluate if the words are the same, opposite, go together, or are unrelated. (adapted from Word Power: What Every Educator Needs to Know about Teaching Vocabulary)
IDEA #7: Linear Array
In this strategy, students use a graphic organizer that is a rectangle, three ovals, and then another rectangle, all in a line. The word in question goes in the rectangle on the far left. The rectangle on the far right is filled in with a word that is the opposite. The center three ovals are filled in with words that go from the far left to the far right, gradually become less similar until they reach the opposite. For example, microscopic, tiny, small, bigger, large. (adapted from Words, Words, Words: Teaching Vocabulary in Grades 4 – 12)
IDEA #8: Games
Many “real” games work well for vocab play and practice. Games such as Balderdash, Taboo, Scrabble, Blurt, Bananagrams, word bingo, and others are fun. There are online games as well, such as Scholastic’s Synonym Toast.
[Note: I am a notoriously horrible Scrabble player, and every time I play I think, “English teachers should be better at this.” It’s not my favorite.]
IDEA #9: Scavenger Hunt
Have a word scavenger hunt in books, magazines, articles on the net, or in the school or home. Don’t just go for numbers; go for unusual words, academic vocabulary, weird spellings, homophones, etc.
IDEA #10: Word Wheel
Copy and paste this image onto a sheet of cardstock and make a vocab spinner game. EisforExplore shares the whole idea here.
IDEA #11: Vocabulary Photo Album
Using a simple, inexpensive photo album, students create a visual glossary of key words.
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