In this activity, students can demonstrate their understanding of vocabulary words. The example provided is delinquent, and its definition is, “a young person who gets in trouble frequently”. In the text, Byron is considered a delinquent when he lights toys on fire in the bathroom. The second example is emulate. The definition of the word is “to match or copy, especially by imitating”. Byron’s teacher advises him to emulate his brother’s studious behavior. The last vocabulary example is jabber, which means “to talk in a noisy, excited way”. Rufus, Kenny’s new friend, jabbers to him about different topics.
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Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in The Watsons Go to Birmingham by creating visualizations.
Teachers and students can list down some important and complex vocabulary words present in the novel and discuss them beforehand before conducting any activities. Teachers can discuss the meaning, the context, and the significance of the vocabulary words so students have enough understanding to perform the activities independently.
Teachers can assign each student 5-6 vocabulary words from the list and ask them to use these words to come up with a storyline and write a short story. This is an interesting activity that will foster creativity and let the students use their imagination. Students can share their stories in class at the end and assess each other’s take on creativity.
Teachers can recommend students some reading material that contains similar levels of complex vocabulary words. Encourage the students to practice highlighting complex familiar and unfamiliar words they find throughout the reading. This will help reinforce already learned concepts and help them gain new knowledge.
Teachers can use interactive games as a new mode of learning in between sessions. This can help lighten the mood and foster a collaborative and healthy learning environment. Games such as word associations or word charades can be played including newly learned vocabulary. Students can also suggest any other games they know of that can help them learn better.
Assess students' vocabulary knowledge on a regular basis via tasks, exams, or oral evaluations. Give helpful feedback to promote learning. Teachers can also regularly hold small competitions and give winners some sort of incentive to keep their motivation high.
Since the story focuses on many events of racism and discrimination that influenced The Civil Rights Movement, much of the vocabulary is used in the context of these social and historical contexts. Talking about the historical importance of the many terms and phrases in the book—many of which are connected to the Civil Rights Movement—can help students grasp the subject matter better.
Language arts exercises, social studies talks, and history courses can all incorporate the vocabulary used in the story. Themes like equality and social justice can also be explored using it. Teachers can hold different discussions surrounding many subjects where the vocabulary can b e reinforced and analyzed.