Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary found in the book Where the Red Fern Grows. Students will create a spider map of 3-5 terms at the teachers discretion. Each cell will contain a word, its definition or description, and an appropriate illustration.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that illustrates and defines new vocabulary in Where the Red Fern Grows.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Must have 3 terms, correct definitions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Engage students with new words as they appear in the story to make vocabulary learning meaningful. Pausing to discuss vocabulary in context helps students connect words to plot and characters, deepening understanding and retention.
Demonstrate how to use context clues by sharing your thought process aloud. Show students how you infer meaning from surrounding sentences or illustrations to empower them to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary independently.
Ask students to relate new vocabulary to their own experiences, such as sharing a time they felt 'astonished' or describing a 'predicament' they've faced. Personal connections boost memory and engagement with new terms.
Prompt students to turn and talk with a partner about what a word means or how it is used in the story. Brief discussions encourage active participation and help clarify meaning in a low-pressure setting.
Incorporate short, fun activities like matching games, charades, or quick sketches to review vocabulary throughout the unit. Frequent, enjoyable practice helps solidify word knowledge and keeps students motivated.
Effective vocabulary activities for Where the Red Fern Grows include creating visual spider maps, using storyboards to illustrate word meanings, and discussing key terms in context. These methods help students understand and remember important vocabulary from the novel.
Students can create a vocabulary storyboard by selecting 3-5 key terms, writing definitions for each, and drawing illustrations that show the words in action. Using a spider map format helps organize the words and makes learning interactive.
A visual vocabulary board is a graphic organizer where students display vocabulary words with definitions and illustrations. This approach supports comprehension by linking visual cues to word meanings, making new terms easier to remember.
Focus on words that are central to the story, such as astonished, bawl, grit, predicament, and scolding. Choose terms that may be unfamiliar to students or are important for understanding the plot and characters.
The best way to illustrate vocabulary words is by drawing scenes, characters, or items from the story that show the meaning of each word. Encourage students to use context clues and their imagination to make connections with the text.