Vocabulary Activity #3

Swat the Board

This is a fun game in which students are divided into two teams. One person from each team stands at the board with a fly swatter in hand. 

On the board, all the vocabulary words are written irregularly across the whole board.

The teacher gives one clue. The clue could be the definition, a sentence with the word blanked out, synonyms, or antonyms of the word. After the clue is given, students race to see which one can figure out the clue and slap the correct word first.

Student teams can keep track of points to keep it more competitive and engaging. This fun game not only helps students review vocabulary but helps them learn it more deeply through synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.

Now that you've mastered the vocab, let's do some Before Reading Activities----------->

Vocabulary Activity #2

Fill in the Blank

In this activity, we'll be practicing making meaning of words from context clues! Context clues help us determine the meaning of unknown words, they can appear within the same sentence as the challenging word or in the sentence that precedes or follows it.

There are four types of common context clues:

1. Repeat Clues: the author uses a synonym of the difficult term to help the reader define it.
2. Contrast Clues: the author uses an antonym to show the reader what the difficult term does not mean.
3. Definition Clues: the author defines the word for the reader within the same text.
4. Example Clues: the author gives different examples to help the reader understand the difficult term.

As a reader, you can also make meaning from unknown words by looking for prefixes, suffixes, root words, and the general content of the text you're reading.

To practice using context clues, we're going to use our important vocabulary from chapters 1-3 (which can be found here). I will give you a sentence from the text that is missing one word. Using the context clues surrounding the sentence, you will deduct which word is missing! 

Vocabulary Activity #1

The Hot Seat

In this game, one student gets to be in "the hot seat" guessing the word that is on the projector screen behind them. 

Since they cannot see the word, it is up to the rest of the class to help them guess which word it is by providing definitions, synonyms, antonyms, acting it out, or making up sentences for context clues. 

The class may use their phones, dictionaries, the novel, or other resources to help come up with clues for the student in the hot seat. But, the goal is to learn these words to the point no other resources are necessary.

When the student guesses the word correctly, another takes over the hot seat. The game continues until we've reviewed all 20 vocabulary words!!

Here you can find the PowerPoint with all our vocabulary words if you'd like to practice with a friend or review at home!

The Hot Seat PowerPoint

Check out the next post for our second vocabulary strategy!!

------------> Vocabulary Strategy 2: Fill in the Blank

Important Vocabulary from Chapters 1-3

Important Vocabulary Chapters 1-3

Here you'll find twenty vocabulary words from the first three chapters of our novel. These words were picked for various reasons, either their unfamiliarity or their role in comprehending the text. Review these words at your pace, then look to the next few posts for a couple different games I've developed to help you remember this vocab!

1. Defer

• Definition: hold back to a later time
• Sentence: "You dipped into the muddy waters of the Harlem River and shouted 'taste and see' that we Black folk be good at fanning hope and stoking the fires of dreams deferred" 
• Synonyms: delay, shelf, stall, postpone, hold up, set aside

2. Venture

• Definition: proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible danger
• Sentence:  
• You made sure 
  the world heard 
  about the beauty of 
  maple sugar children, and the 
  artfully tattooed backs of Black 
  sailors venturing out 
  to foreign places.
• Synonyms: endeavor, adventure, go