Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary found in the book Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata.
Students will create a Spider map of 3-5 terms at the teachers discretion. Each cell will contain a term or allusion, its definition or description and an appropriate illustration.
Chicken Sexer: A chicken sexer distinguishes the sex of chicks and other hatchlings. Chicken sexing is practiced mostly by large commercial hatcheries to separate female chicks or "pullets" from the males or "cockerels".
hatsu-yume: "Hatsu-Yume” is Japanese for the first prophetic dream in the new year.
kira-kira: shiny, glittering, sparkling.
Labor Union: an organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests.
onigri: rice balls in Japanese.
Sode Boshi: the “kimono sleeve in the sky” is the constellation also called Orion.
Thug: a term for a violent person that intimidates others. In the story, the owners of the poultry plant hire thugs to intimidate workers into not organizing a union.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that defines and illustrates key vocabulary terms or allusions from Kira-Kira.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Must have 3 vocabulary terms, correct definitions or descriptions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Turn learning into an adventure by having students search for key terms and allusions as they read Kira-Kira. Challenge them to spot, record, and share new words in context to boost retention and excitement for vocabulary!
Explain the activity and show examples of what to look for. Set clear goals for how many terms to find and discuss how students should record their discoveries.
Give each student a simple organizer to note down vocabulary terms, page numbers, and their own definitions. This keeps students focused and organized as they read.
Allow students to compare findings in pairs or small groups. Sharing discoveries builds engagement and helps clarify meanings together.
Host a quick class discussion or create a word wall with collected terms and illustrations. Reinforcing vocabulary together deepens understanding and celebrates their efforts.
Key vocabulary terms and allusions in Kira-Kira include chicken sexer, hatsu-yume, kira-kira, labor union, onigri, sode boshi, and thug. These words help students understand important themes and cultural references in the book.
Use a storyboard or spider map activity where students define and illustrate 3–5 key terms or allusions from Kira-Kira. This helps reinforce vocabulary, encourage creativity, and deepen understanding of the novel’s context.
A spider map activity helps students visually organize vocabulary by connecting terms with their definitions and illustrations. It boosts comprehension and retention, especially when exploring literature like Kira-Kira.
Examples include hatsu-yume (the first prophetic dream of the new year in Japanese culture), sode boshi (the Orion constellation, called the 'kimono sleeve in the sky'), and kira-kira (meaning shiny or sparkling in Japanese).
Students should: 1) Click 'Start Assignment,' 2) Choose 3 vocabulary terms or allusions, 3) Write definitions/descriptions, and 4) Create illustrations for each term to show understanding.