We Are the Ship Visual Vocabulary

Another great way to engage your students is with storyboards that use vocabulary from We are the Ship: The Story of the Negro League Baseball. Here are a few vocabulary words commonly taught with the book and an example of a visual vocabulary board.

Here are some ways to help your students find the meaning of the vocabulary words they choose:

1. Use context clues; sometimes you can figure out the meaning of a word by reading the sentences that come before and after the unknown word.
2. Sometimes, the author may tell the definition of the word in the same sentence, or in the following sentence.
3. Picture clues may help define an unknown word.
4. Look at the unknown word and look for parts you may know. Sometimes a new ending or beginning has been added or changed.
5. Use a dictionary or glossary.

Example Vocabulary Words from We are the Ship

• segregation
• barnstorm
• The Great Depression
• ambition
• dignity
• wit
• rival
• pride
• consistent
• prohibit
• roster
• unsavory
• inexplicable
• rickety
• dedication
• peculiar
• thrive
• epithet
• assure
• debut

Student Instructions

Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in We are the Ship 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.