Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary terms and allusions aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary and allusions found in the book The Wish Giver by Bill Brittain. Students will create a spider map of 3-5 terms at the teacher's discretion. Each cell will contain a term or allusion, its definition or description, and an appropriate illustration.
abounded: to exist in large quantities
awe: a great feeling of admiration
content: to be satisfied
coven: a group of witches
crafty: skillful at deceiving others
dismal: gloomy, dreary, cheerless
exasperation: extreme annoyance
exquisite: finely made or done
fraud: a person who performs trickery or deceit
forlorn: sad from being left alone
glistened: to reflect a sparkly light or glow
mortal: a human, non-magical being
musty: having a moldy smell
mute: unable to speak
muzzle: a device placed over one's mouth
reluctant: showing doubt or unwillingness
scurry: to move in a brisk way
shanty: a small roughly built shelter or dwelling
(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 from The Wish Giver.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Must have 3 vocabulary terms, correct definitions or descriptions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Connect vocabulary words to the story events by having students find and discuss each word as it appears in The Wish Giver. This helps students understand meanings in real reading situations and reinforces retention.
Choose 2–3 important or challenging words from each chapter. Focusing on essential terms lets students build understanding gradually and avoids overwhelming them.
Read a sentence from the book with a target word. Think aloud about how you figure out the word’s meaning using clues from the surrounding text. Students learn to apply this strategy independently.
Ask students to write their own sentences using each vocabulary word. Encourage creativity and tie their examples back to events or characters in the story for deeper understanding.
Play quick review games like matching words to definitions, charades, or vocabulary bingo. Active practice boosts engagement and helps terms stick.
A visual vocabulary activity for The Wish Giver involves students selecting key terms or allusions from the book, defining them, and illustrating each one. This helps improve comprehension and retention by connecting words to images and context.
To create a storyboard for vocabulary words in The Wish Giver, choose 3-5 terms, write definitions or descriptions, and draw or select illustrations for each. Use a spider map format, with each cell containing a term, its meaning, and a visual representation.
Examples of key vocabulary from The Wish Giver include abounded (to exist in large quantities), coven (a group of witches), exquisite (finely made), fraud (deceiver), and forlorn (sad from being left alone).
Teaching vocabulary visually helps 4th to 6th graders by making abstract words concrete, supporting memory with imagery, and engaging multiple learning styles. It also encourages deeper understanding and active participation.
A spider map is a graphic organizer where a central idea branches out to related concepts. In vocabulary lessons, each branch features a term, its definition, and an illustration, helping students organize and visualize word meanings.