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 The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. 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 defines and illustrates new vocabulary words in The Wild Robot.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Must have 3 terms, correct definitions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
The teacher should choose important words from the story that will aid students in understanding the story itself, as well as improve their lexicon.
Offer students words that match their level, so you can challenge or scaffold students appropriately. In this manner, lower level students will not become overwhelmed, while higher level students will not be bored.
Visual aids work extremely well for vocabulary acquisition. When students use a spider map or storyboard to define words and draw an example, they are more likely to retain the knowledge of the new word.
Helping students to learn specific vocabulary words on the front end of the story aids students in their overall understanding of the story. Pulling words out at the beginning of study assists in the retention of the words as well.
Students are visual learners, so connecting words to pictures they create in their head or on a map really helps them to cement understanding. Making the connection of the drawing uses a different part of the brain so they will be more likely to remember long-term.