Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary that students will see in their readings or presentations aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary related to Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff.
Students will preview the terms and definitions and use whole class or small group discussion to demonstrate their understanding of each meaning. This can be done at the beginning of each chapter so that students can preview what they will read or teachers could decide to do at the end of a chapter as an assessment. When students define and illustrate each term, they master the application of it and retain it as part of their lexicon.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that illustrates and defines at least 3 vocabulary words from Lily's Crossing.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Must have 3 terms, correct definitions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Gamify vocabulary review to boost student motivation and participation. Active games help reinforce word meanings and build confidence.
Arrange students into teams of 3–5 to encourage collaboration and friendly competition. Grouping keeps all students involved and accountable.
Have students or prepare yourself a set of cards—one for each vocabulary word and another for its definition. This hands-on prep makes the activity interactive and reusable.
Let teams match words to definitions or act out words using gestures (charades style). These activities make learning memorable and fun, supporting all learning styles.
Wrap up by highlighting teamwork and discussing any challenging vocabulary. Positive feedback and shared review help students retain new terms.
A visual vocabulary activity for Lily's Crossing involves students choosing key terms from the novel, defining each one, and creating illustrations to represent their meanings. This strategy helps boost comprehension and retention of important vocabulary from the text.
To teach vocabulary from Lily's Crossing engagingly, have students create storyboards or spider maps where they define each word and illustrate it. Encourage group discussions and use visuals to make the learning process interactive and memorable.
Some key vocabulary words from Lily's Crossing include invasion, rosaries, drone, throttle, censors, insignia, viaduct, convent, convoy, stifling, trespassing, jetty, turrets, liberate, veered, pact, irritable, and smuggle.
Visual vocabulary is important for 4th to 6th graders because it helps them connect words with images, making abstract terms easier to understand and remember. It also supports different learning styles and strengthens reading comprehension.
Students should select at least three vocabulary words, write correct definitions, create relevant illustrations for each, and use these visuals to demonstrate their understanding as part of a storyboard or spider map. Reviewing terms before or after each chapter can be effective.