Personal Vocabulary Expansion
by Debbie Keith, dkeith@beau.k12.la.us

Content Area(s)
English/Language Arts

Grade Level(s)
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 

Overview
This lesson requires students to record unfamiliar words they encounter in their personal reading. They define the word, give a synonym, and write their own sentence using the word.

Software
Contacts
Dictionary
Camera
Memo

Technology
Personal reading material

Objectives
1. TWL identify unfamiliar words in context.
2. TWL define word.
3. TWL supply synomyn/short substition phrase.
4. TWL use the new word in own sentence.
5. TWL create a pictorial of the word in use.

Procedures
As students read and come across unfamilar words, they will document the word in the contacts program of the Palm. In the first name area, the new word will be written. The source sentence will be recorded under the space for work phone number. At the title section, the dictionary definition will be listed. (Students may download a trial version of a dictionary at handango.com) Under the mobile phone number, students supply a synonym or short phrase that could substitute for the word. At the e-mail address section, students write their own sentence using the new word. Finally, students look for something to photograph or draw in Sketchy which will illustrate the word as it is being used. As a culminating activity, in small groups students can beam their illustrations to each other and let their classmates try to guess which word (from a list of words in Memo which the teacher could prepare beforehand) is being illustrated. Groups could select words to be presented to the whole class. As students share new vocabulary words, others can add them and their definitions to their own Palms. This would be great preparation for the ACT or SAT.

Other Supporting Material

Submitted on: 1/11/2006 5:55:31 PM