Vocabulary instruction takes center stage in many high school English classrooms. As these students prepare for vital standardized tests and their eventual transition to college, they continue to learn additional vocabulary words, adding the new terms to their lexicon, or personal dictionary. While learning vocabulary can be a mundane task, teachers can add excitement to their lessons by offering interactive vocabulary activities specifically designed to enhance their students' comprehension of these previously unfamiliar terms.
Vocabulary Story Challenge
Practice vocabulary use in context by challenging students to compose a vocabulary word filled story. At the end of a vocabulary unit, present your students with a list of all of the words that you have explored. Ask the students to compose a story containing as many of these key words as possible. Ask students to highlight the words within the story so that you can quickly check their work. Rewards the student who correctly uses the most words within her story with a special prize.
Vocabulary Skits
Assist students in retaining vocabulary word meaning by giving them a visual example of each word as it is properly used. During your vocabulary unit, divide students into groups. Assign each group a set of vocabulary words that you are currently studying. Ask each group to compose a skit featuring their assigned words. Encourage your pupils to create zany skits featuring humorous hijinks that will intrigue the audience. Allow the students to perform their skits for the class.
Um... What?
Create a student centered vocabulary unit by allowing students to seek out and collect unknown words to study. In the weeks leading up to your intended unit, ask students to be on the look out for unfamiliar vocabulary. Ask your students to cut out or jot down any words that they encounter during their daily reading. Set a requisite number of words for each student to contribute to the list to ensure that you build an extensive collection. Instruct students on the meanings of these unknown words as you move throughout the unit, giving proper credit to the student who found each term.
Vocabulary Bingo
Engage your high school students in a little game play fun at the conclusion of your vocabulary unit. To prepare for your game, type or write the definitions of your unit vocabulary words on slips of paper, fold them and place them in a hat or basket. To play vocabulary bingo, give each student a list of vocabulary words, and a blank five by five grid. Ask each student to select 25 words and write them in the blanks on his grid. Draw out the definitions at random, reading them to the students as you pull them out of the basket. Ask students to mark off any words that they have on their list when they hear you read the matching definition. The first student to successfully mark of five words in a row, yells "Bingo!" and wins the game.
