Learning new vocabulary develops listening comprehension skills and increases understanding in discussions and conversations across different subject areas. 

suggestions for vocabulary activities

Online Tools

• Quizlet-create vocabulary lists and flashcards
• Lexipedia-visual dictionary, thesaurus and interactive lexicon
• Visuwords-visual dictionary, thesaurus and interactive lexicon
• Wordhippo –thesaurus and word tools
• Yourdictionary -online dictionary and thesaurus

Classroom Activities

• Taboo- helps students practice with synonyms and descriptions.
  • Divide students into two teams
  • Each team selects a person to guess first
  • Show the teams (but NOT the guessers) a vocabulary word
  • Teams describe the words and try to get the guesser to say the word
    • *The board game Taboo can be used
    • Use a timer
• Letter scramble-helps reinforce elements of pronunciation
  • On a slide or white board, scramble the letters of Key Vocabulary words
  • Students work individually or in pairs to unscramble the words
  • The first to finish deciphering all the words wins.
• Whisper challenge-helps reinforce elements of pronunciation
  • Students work in pairs and take turns silently mouthing the words from a Key Vocabulary list
  • Partners have to guess the correct word from lip-reading their partner