Vocabulary Development
Vocabulary development is crucial to the growth of a budding historian. Vocabulary will allow my historians to be successful in the different tasks and actions expected of them. It will allow them to comprehend, discuss, analyze and draw connections more effectively. I believe that vocabulary development does not have to be a dry and boring task. It can be made fun by drawing on students creativity, making it into a game and challenging them to think outside the box with and about words.
My "Fav Five"
1. Word Wall
Word Wall is a great vocabulary resource for every classroom. It can contain both words from your discipline as well as unit vocabulary or words that are commonly misspelled. It helps to have your WW organized alphabetically because it will help students to access words more efficiently. There are different activities you can do with your WW, such as those provided on the attached doc. Regardless of whether you choose to use your WW for activities or just have it as a resource for students, it is a great addition to a classroom!
word_wall.docx | |
File Size: | 77 kb |
File Type: | docx |
2. Role Play
Students are provided with a vocabulary word and definition which they then have to act out to the class. The class then tries to figure out the definition based on the skit provided by the group of students. I love this activity because it gets students out of their seats and allows them to learn in another way.
3. Vocabulary in Context
4. Vocabulary Self Awareness
For this particular language strategy, students are asked to self-assess their prior knowledge within a set of vocabulary words. For my lesson, I chose an article that my seventh grade class is currently reading and created a chart with selected vocabulary words that students may or may not know. Then, I ask the students to rate each vocabulary word with a plus, check, or minus—knows it well, has heard of the word but cannot give definition or example, does not know the word at all. Then, after each student has completed the chart, the hope is to have the student correct and completely fill the chart by the end of the unit or lesson, giving each word an example as well as a definition.
mini_lesson_3.doc | |
File Size: | 37 kb |
File Type: | doc |
5. Vocabulary Games
vocab.docx | |
File Size: | 69 kb |
File Type: | docx |
50 Vocabulary Words for Budding Historians
1. Analyze - Examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of (something, esp. information), typically for purposes of explanation
2. Discuss - alk or write about (a topic) in detail, taking into account different ideas and opinions
3. Support - sustain - maintain - uphold - bear - back - favour
4. Argue - Give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view
5. Comprehend - Grasp mentally; understand
6. Reason - Think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic
7. Connect - Bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established
8. Assess - Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of
9. Compare - Estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between
10. Conclude - Come to an end
11.
12. Identify - Establish or indicate who or what (someone or something) is
13. Engage - Occupy, attract, or involve
14. Cite - Quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, esp. in a scholarly work
15. Develop - Grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate
16. Debate - Argue about (a subject), esp. in a formal manner
17. Research - Investigate systematically
18. Organize - Arrange into a structured whole; order
19. Describe - Give an account in words of (someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events
20. Relate - Give an account of (a sequence of events); narrate
21. Inquire - Ask for information from someone
22. Deduce - Arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning; draw as a logical conclusion23.
24. Discover - Become aware of (a fact or situation)
25. Determine - Firmly decide
2. Discuss - alk or write about (a topic) in detail, taking into account different ideas and opinions
3. Support - sustain - maintain - uphold - bear - back - favour
4. Argue - Give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view
5. Comprehend - Grasp mentally; understand
6. Reason - Think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic
7. Connect - Bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established
8. Assess - Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of
9. Compare - Estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between
10. Conclude - Come to an end
11.
12. Identify - Establish or indicate who or what (someone or something) is
13. Engage - Occupy, attract, or involve
14. Cite - Quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, esp. in a scholarly work
15. Develop - Grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate
16. Debate - Argue about (a subject), esp. in a formal manner
17. Research - Investigate systematically
18. Organize - Arrange into a structured whole; order
19. Describe - Give an account in words of (someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events
20. Relate - Give an account of (a sequence of events); narrate
21. Inquire - Ask for information from someone
22. Deduce - Arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning; draw as a logical conclusion23.
24. Discover - Become aware of (a fact or situation)
25. Determine - Firmly decide