Another great way to engage your students is through the creation of storyboards that use vocabulary from The Things They Carried. Here is a list of a few vocabulary words commonly taught with the novel, and an example of a visual vocabulary board.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in The Things They Carried by creating visualizations.
Encourage students to showcase their visual vocabulary boards by organizing a gallery walk. Gallery walks allow students to learn from each other’s work and deepen their understanding of key terms through peer interaction.
Display each student’s or group’s storyboard on desks or the walls. This creates an inviting space for movement and observation. Seeing all boards at once helps students make connections between vocabulary words and their visual representations.
Divide the class into small groups and direct each group to begin at a different storyboard. This prevents crowding and ensures equal attention to every board.
Have groups rotate every few minutes to the next board. Encourage them to discuss the vocabulary word, its definition, and the illustration at each station. This active engagement promotes collaboration and reinforces understanding.
Ask students to leave sticky notes or verbal comments with specific praise or questions for the creators. Constructive feedback boosts confidence and encourages thoughtful participation.
A visual vocabulary board for The Things They Carried is an activity where students select key words from the novel, define them, use them in sentences, and illustrate their meanings with scenes or images. This helps deepen vocabulary understanding in a creative, engaging way.
To teach The Things They Carried vocabulary to 9th and 10th graders, have students choose words from the novel, look up definitions, use each word in a sentence, and create visual representations using drawings or photos. This reinforces comprehension and retention.
Common vocabulary words from The Things They Carried include catharsis, fatigues, hamlet, topography, bivouacked, rapture, gangrene, mine detector, culottes, and latrine.
The best way to engage students with novel vocabulary is through interactive activities like storyboards or visual vocabulary boards. These let students connect words to images and personal experiences, making learning more memorable and enjoyable.
Creating visualizations helps students learn vocabulary by linking words to images, which boosts understanding and recall. Visualization engages different learning styles and encourages deeper thinking about word meanings and usage.