Instructional Strategy

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INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY

Picture Glossary

Grade:

K-2, 3-5

Type:

Acquire Vocabulary
/ Develop Language (MLL)
20-30

Minutes

When:

Before, during, and after reading

Materials:

Picture Glossary graphic organizer, preselected text, whiteboard or display, writing utensil
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Description

Colorful doodles of various objects and symbols on white background.
© shoo-arts— iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
The Picture Glossary strategy develops vocabulary understanding before, during, and after reading. This method helps students create visual representations of new vocabulary words and increases students’ reading comprehension.
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Procedure

1
Share the importance of connecting new vocabulary words to images to increase understanding.
2
Display different pictures on ImageQuest Jr. or another royalty-free source to help students explore the concept of making visual connections to internalize the meanings of different vocabulary words.
3
Provide blank copies of the Picture Glossary graphic organizer to each student and engage the class in brainstorming about familiar words related to the lesson topic to activate thinking. List these words on the board.
4
Draw or display the Picture Glossary graphic organizer on the board and use one or two familiar words to model expectations.
Write each word in the first column of the organizer, titled “Vocabulary Words.”
Create a visual representation of each familiar word in the “Drawing” column.
Examples: Sun (image of sun) / Leaf (image of leaf)
5
Invite students to copy one example from the board.
6
Introduce students to a preselected text. Preview what the reading will be about and encourage students to pay attention to unfamiliar vocabulary words.
7
Engage the class in a guided reading of the text, placing special emphasis on new vocabulary words presented in the text. Do this by pausing at key words to define them and discuss their meanings.
8
While pausing, invite students to write down new vocabulary words and draw a visual representation of them.
9
After the reading, encourage students to work independently or in pairs to complete their Picture Glossary.
10
Conclude by reflecting as a group on how pictures can help students build vocabulary.
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Differentiation

Picture Banks: To support students who are developing their fine motor skills, provide pictures of new words for them to cut and paste. Then have the students write the vocabulary word. This activity helps early learners develop their spelling skills as well as their one-to-one correspondence.
Contextualized Vocabulary: Invite students to use new vocabulary words in context by using them in a sentence. Encourage students to do this independently and guide them as needed. This supports students in developing their independent writing skills.

Multilingual Learning Support

Beginning Proficiency: Support vocabulary learning by first introducing target words through concrete images that connect to students’ prior knowledge and cultural experiences. Guide students to label these images in their home language next to the English word, creating a clear bridge between languages. During reading, pause to match text vocabulary with real objects or pictures when possible, allowing students to sketch or select images that personally represent the word’s meaning. When sharing pictures, encourage students to first explain in their home language why they chose that representation and then practice saying the English word. This approach builds direct word-meaning connections while students use their home language as a foundation.
Intermediate Proficiency: Deepen vocabulary understanding by having students create two-part picture entries—one showing the word’s literal meaning and another showing it in context from the text. Have students add brief explanations, in both English and their home language, about why they chose each picture, helping them process the word more deeply. During partner sharing, provide sentence frames (e.g., “This picture shows…because…”) to help students explain their visual choices using target vocabulary. Encourage students to make connections between related words by drawing lines between pictures that show similar concepts across languages.
Advanced Proficiency: Enhance vocabulary mastery by having students create multi-panel pictures that show different aspects or uses of each word from the text. For example, one panel might show the word’s basic meaning, another its use in the text, and another its related words or expressions. Have students add precise English captions explaining each panel. During reading, encourage students to note when words have multiple meanings or figurative uses, adding new panels to their picture glossary to show these variations. This support deepens understanding of nuanced vocabulary while maintaining strong visual connections to meaning. For younger students, focus on clear representation of single word meanings with simple captions. For older students, expand to include academic vocabulary with more complex meanings and relationships between words.
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Variations

Picture Glossary Collage: Encourage students to use different elements such as magazines, newspapers, and ImageQuest Jr. images to create a collage that represents new vocabulary words. This supports the development of fine motor skills and allows students to explore different media sources. If these sources are not available, consider inviting students to use colored pencils, crayons, and markers to make their collages.
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