My world of words: Building vocabulary lists
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=53
A lesson plan for Grades 3–5 English Language Arts
About this resource
- Appropriate grades
- 3–5
- Subjects
- English language arts (general), thinking skills (research skills)
- Provider
- IRA/NCTE
Legal
This catalog record is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This license applies to the content of this page only and does not apply to the referenced website.
In this lesson, students are engaged in a vocabulary search based on their areas of interest. The lesson begins with the teacher discussing how words are everywhere—online or in magazines, newspapers, books, letters, and conversations. Then, students participate in an online word search through National Geographic Explorer or another web resource the teacher selects. In small groups, students discuss their findings and suggest words that relate to the their classmates' interests. Over a few days, students search for unknown words that interest them and complete a graphic organizer using the words. Students discuss their words in small groups and then research those words using reference materials such as a dictionary, thesaurus, and an encyclopedia. Students create “My world of words” journals by writing a definition and illustrating the words. Students then share their journals with the class. Readwritethink provides links to online reference materials, extension activities, and assessment options.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 3
- Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
- wide reading.
- word study.
- listening.
- discussion.
- book talks.
- book clubs.
- seminars.
- viewing.
- role play.
- studying author's craft.
- Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., dictionary, glossary) to confirm decoding skills, verify spelling, and extend meanings of words.
- Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
- present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
- discuss.
- sustain conversation on a topic.
- share information and ideas.
- recount or narrate.
- answer open-ended questions.
- report information on a topic.
- explain own learning.
- Objective 4.03: Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author's chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
Grade 4
- Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
- wide reading.
- word study.
- knowledge of homophones, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms.
- knowledge of multiple meanings of words.
- writing process elements.
- writing as a tool for learning.
- seminars.
- book clubs.
- discussions.
- examining the author's craft.
- Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus) to identify and comprehend unknown words.
- Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
- present information and ideas in a clear, concise manner.
- discuss.
- interview.
- solve problems.
- make decisions.
- Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.
- Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
Grade 5
- Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.04: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, on-line reference tools) to identify and comprehend unknown words.
- Objective 1.05: Read independently daily from self-selected materials (consistent with the student's independent reading level) to:
- increase fluency.
- build background knowledge.
- expand and refine vocabulary.
- Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
- Objective 3.06: Conduct research (with assistance) from a variety of sources for assigned or self-selected projects (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
