Instructional Strategy

Britannica Education logo in blue square

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY

Word Sketch

Grade:

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

Type:

Acquire Vocabulary
< 20

Minutes

When:

Before and after reading

Materials:

Markers or colored pencils, poster or chart paper, whiteboard or display
Chat bubble with list icon in green on white background

Description

Hand holding pencil over geometric background with pink accent shape.
© Anton Vierietin— iStock/ Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
The Word Sketch strategy is designed to enhance vocabulary acquisition by encouraging students to create personal connections with new words. This approach improves understanding, comprehension, and retention by having students associate words with their own experiences or concepts, thereby deepening their grasp of the vocabulary. Through this strategy, students will not only remember the words but also better comprehend their meanings and applications.
Curved arrows forming square in orange on white background

Procedure

1
Divide the students into partners or groups of three or four.
2
Provide each group with a large piece of white paper and markers.
3
Give each group a different vocabulary word to focus on that aligns with your desired learning outcome or topic of study.
4
Have each group write their assigned word in the center of the paper. Encourage creativity in how they write it—for example, if the word is ocean, they could shape the letters to resemble waves, or they might use a blue marker to emphasize the theme of water.
5
Allow students 10–15 minutes to visually and textually explore the word by drawing pictures, symbols, or references to its use within a text. Encourage them to write sentences, definitions, or related words. Emphasize that they can add anything that helps explain or connect to the word.
6
As the students work, circulate to offer guidance, clarify misunderstandings, and assist groups that might need assistance.
7
Once the groups have completed their work, they should display their papers around the classroom.
8
Ask a spokesperson from each group to present their work and explain how their drawings and text relate to the vocabulary word.
Expanding arrows icon in white on purple background

Differentiation

Definition and Example Starter: Provide each group with a concise definition and example sentence for their assigned vocabulary word, distributed on cards or digitally. This approach ensures foundational understanding, guides creative tasks, and illustrates practical usage, encouraging students to integrate these elements into their visual displays for enhanced retention and application.
Depth of Knowledge Questions: Before students begin their creative exploration of the vocabulary words, present each group with a set of depth of knowledge (DOK) questions tailored to their assigned word. These questions should encourage students to think beyond the surface level. For example:
What are the potential impacts of this concept in real-life situations?
How might this word be misunderstood or misused, and why?
Can you think of any historical or current events where this word plays a significant role?
Overlapping documents icon in light blue on white background

Variations

Resource-Based Collage Creation: Encourage students to use a curated set of resources—either digital elements, like images and video clips, or physical materials, like magazines and newspapers—to create a visual representation of assigned words. Ask groups to assemble their collages on either digital platforms or traditional poster boards, incorporating diverse elements that depict the meaning and context of the vocabulary. Invite students to present their work, explaining the significance of each component.
© Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.