Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary that students will see in their readings or presentations aids in overall comprehension and retention. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates key vocabulary related to Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. When students define and illustrate each term, they master the application of it and retain it as part of their lexicon.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map that defines and illustrates new vocabulary words in Towers Falling.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Must have 3 terms, correct definitions, and appropriate illustrations for each that demonstrate your understanding of the words.
Start by defining the different components of speech. Define them as groups of words that are organized according to how they are used in sentences. Assess students' prior knowledge and ask them if they know what is a noun, verb, and an adjective.
After introducing the concept, start with the basic ones so students do not get bombarded with information. Only introduce nouns, verbs, and adjectives and slowly move on to more complex ones such as adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions.
Students will learn better with the help of examples rather than textbook definitions, hence teachers should provide interesting and engaging examples to help students solidify the concept and develop their understanding. For instance, using words like dazzling, adventurous, etc to show adjectives.
Establish a visual aid so that students may refer to examples of each speech component in the classroom. Teachers can dedicate a specific corner in the classroom to this concept so students can go through it daily and use it for memorization and retention.
Give the students writing assignments that call on them to intentionally use various parts of speech in their sentences. Students can also highlight different parts of speech by reading a new story. This enables individuals to apply their learning in a real-world setting.
The skyline of New York City, the dust and rubble left over after the buildings collapsed, the homeless shelter where Deja's family resides, and the goods Deja finds in the box are a few examples of visual vocabulary from the book. Students can also take some particularly difficult vocabulary words and create their illustrations for a better understanding.
The use of visual language makes a tale more engaging and accessible by assisting readers in forming their own mental images and sensory sensations. It helps readers identify with the characters and comprehend how 9/11 affected their lives. It also helps students retain the information in their memory as some students learn better with the help of visual aids.
What students can not understand by hearing, they will be able to understand it by seeing it. Visualization of the vocabulary will also help them memorize and retain information which they can not do simply by listening to it.