Vocabulary Activities

Growing up in Coal Country

Learning the vocabulary in a social studies lesson is essential to not only understanding Social Studies but for increasing the students vocabulary in general.  Increasing a students vocabulary increases their reading comprehension.  This in turn allows them to learn more when they are reading.  Social Studies is a great opportunity to put vocabulary words into meaningful content.

The steps below are taken from Robert Marzano's Six Steps for building academic vocabulary.

Step 1:  The teacher will give a description, explanation or example of the new term in familiar language to the students.

     Voc. Coal.pdf This is a power point that describes the tier 3 vocabulary words with pictures.

Growing Up in Coal Country Voc..docx This is a list of all vocabulary words and definitions.

Step 2:  The teacher will ask the learner to give a description, explanation, or example of the new term in his/her own words.

          This is a worksheet the students do in pairs.  The students create their own definition.  They also determine a word that is identical, similar and opposite of the vocabulary word.  Growing up in Coal Country step 2.docx

Step 3:  The teacher will ask the learner to connect an image with the new term - e.g. draw a picture, symbol. metaphor, or locate a graphic to represent the new term.

   In this worksheet the students write down their own clue to help them remember the vocabulary words.  Growing Up Step 3.docx 

Step 4:  The learner will participate in activities that provide more knowledge of the words such as a reading in which the word is central, creating a semantic map of the word, completing a compare/contrast activity with the words after watching a video that includes them ect.).

     Students will work in pairs to fill out a semantic map for vocabulary words. Semantic Map  Semantic Maps.docx

     Do this step after the students have completed lesson one and read Growing Up in Coal Country.

Step 5:  The learner will interact with other learners using the words (a discussion/skit/play/group assignment).

     The students will be divided up in groups and write their own story or skit about a picture of boys from the mine.  They must use at least 15 of the vocabulary words.  The students will then present their final projects in front of the class.  Growing Up story.docx

Step 6:  The learner will participate in games that provide more reinforcement of the new term. 

     Use the quizlet site to allow students to review the vocabulary words and also play the games scatter and space race to review the vocabulary words. .

     http://quizlet.com/4565410/growing-up-in-coal-country-flash-cards/ 

Use these flash cards to play games with the students.

     You can use these flash cards to play tic tack toe.  Have two students from each team come to the front of the room.  After you read the definition the students each try and ring a bell on the table between them.  The one who rings the bell first has the first chance to answer the question correctly if correct they can place their x or o on the board anywhere they want.  Continue calling on students until someone wins the game. 

     Another game you can play is to place each vocabulary definition on a card.  Each card should also have a non-related vocabulary word on it.  The first student says their definition and the student with that vocabulary word on their card says it.  Then they say the definition to the next word.  The game should continue till all the words and definitions have been said.  This game makes the students have to listen to all definitions because they never know when their turn will be.  I would print out the quizlet flash cards and then write a non-related vocabulary word on the definition. 

http://quizlet.com/4565410/growing-up-in-coal-country-flash-cards/

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