Poe-cabulary Boards: "The Raven"

In any classroom, vocabulary is a critical component for expanding student knowledge. A perfect way for students to practice vocabulary skills is to create storyboards that show the use of a word in a real-life context, or visually depicted the word's meaning. When students define a word and use it in context, they better retain it as part of their own vocabulary.

Vocabulary Words from “The Raven"

• ponder
• bleak
• wrought
• rapping
• entreating
• token
• yore
• mien
• Pallas
• ungainly
• aptly
• dirges
• beguiling
• divining
• censer
• plume
• pallid
• quit

Teachers Note: There are two ways that you can use Poe’s vocabulary to teach your class. You can have students come up with an original sentence that uses the word, or they can find the word in the text, and depict what the word means.

Visually Depicted Word Meanings from “The Raven":

• Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary….
• Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December...
• And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor…

Student Instructions

Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in “The Raven" by creating visualizations.

1. Choose three vocabulary words from the story and type them in the title boxes.
2. Find the definition in a print or online dictionary.
3. Write a sentence that uses the vocabulary word.
4. Illustrate the meaning of the word in the cell using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.
• Alternatively, use Photos for Class to show the meaning of the words with the search bar.
5. Save and submit your storyboard.