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INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY

Vocabulary One-Pager

Grade:

K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Type:

Acquire Vocabulary
< 20

Minutes

When:

Before, during, and after reading

Materials:

Vocabulary One-Pager graphic organizer (four-,five-, and six-word versions), whiteboard or display, writing utensil
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Description

Hand in green sleeve holding blank white paper against teal background.
© beast01—iStock/ Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
The Vocabulary One-Pager is a visual teaching tool for building vocabulary. It allows students to create their own definitions by combining symbols, pictures, and phrases. This strategy can be used before, during, or after reading to help students understand and remember new words. It engages both visual and verbal learning processes, fostering stronger connections and improving word retention.
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Procedure

1
Introduce the topic of the lesson and the lesson vocabulary.
2
Distribute a Vocabulary One-Pager graphic organizer (four-, five-, or six-word version) to each student, or instruct them to create one by dividing a blank notebook page into a section for each vocabulary word.
3
Display the Vocabulary One-Pager to the class and explain that each section should contain one vocabulary word. Instruct students to add words, symbols, or pictures that represent the word’s meaning in each section.
4
Demonstrate the process by choosing one vocabulary word, and fill in a section with related symbols, pictures, and words. Model a think-aloud to explain your thought process and why you chose these specific elements to represent the word’s meaning.
5
Direct students to complete the remainder of the Vocabulary One-Pager. Remind them to include given vocabulary words along with symbols, pictures, or words that align with the provided definitions. Encourage them to add new insights or connections as they read, enhancing their one-pager as their understanding grows.
Emphasize to students that they might encounter words that are new to them. They should add these vocabulary words and symbols, pictures, and words based on the definition provided. Share that as they read, they can add to their one-pager any new thoughts or understandings that surface.
6
If time permits, encourage students to share their one-pagers with a partner. Ask them to explain the pictures or words they used.
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Differentiation

Complete in Home Language: Encourage students to use their home language to complete the organizer. Adding cognates or words and phrases in their home language helps students make connections between the word and familiar concepts. Studies show that using their first language can improve their understanding and aid in learning new words.
Visual Vocabulary One-Pager: Follow the Procedure steps above, but ask students to use only visual elements to represent each word’s meaning.
Connected Words One-Pager: Students complete the Vocabulary One-Pager, placing related words next to each other and noting their connections, which helps them understand and reinforce the relationships between vocabulary terms.
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Variations

Collaborative Vocabulary One-Pager: Organize students into groups of three, and assign each group one vocabulary word. Provide a large sheet of paper for them to create a visual representation of their word using symbols, drawings, and other relevant words. Display the finished work on the classroom wall to create a shared visual glossary for the class to reference.
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