Science Vocabulary What does research say?

Of 5,000 commonly used words First graders with low SES know about 1,800 First graders from middle-class families know about 2,700

Children in lower SES schools learn about 3,500 words a year. Children in middle-class schools learn about 5,200 words a year.

What does research say? The Big Duhs! How much did they spend to come to these conclusions? $$$$$$$$

Verbal knowledge is one of the best indicators of verbal ability.

Disadvantaged children are likely to have a substantially smaller vocabulary than more advantaged children.

Teaching vocabulary can improve reading comprehension.

“The Goal” 25,000 words by the end of 8 th grade 50,000 words by the end of high school

Frequency of Rare Words Number of Rare Words Source Per 1,000 words I. Printed texts Abstracts of science articles Newspapers 68.3 Popular magazines 65.7 Children’s books 30.9 II. Television texts Prime-time adult shows 22.7 Prime-time children’s shows 20.2 III. Adult speech Expert witness testimony 28.4 College graduates talking with friends 17.3

Ways We Learn Vocabulary Random incidental learning experiences Planned incidental learning experiences Direct instruction experiences

Direct Instruction 1.The teacher identifies the new word and elicits the student’s background knowledge.

Direct Instruction 2.The teacher explains the meaning of the new word. (in their context)

Direct Instruction 3. Students generate their own explanations and the teacher helps clear up confusion and misinformation.

Direct Instruction 4.Students create a visual representation of the new word. (not a masterpiece)

Direct Instruction 5. Students engage in experiences that deepen their understanding of the new word.

Direct Instruction 6. Students engage in vocabulary games and activities to help them remember the word and its meaning.

Visual Representations? Mental pictures

Visual Representations? Mental Pictures Symbols

Visual Representations? Mental Pictures Symbols Graphic Organizers

Visual Representations? Mental Pictures Symbols Graphic Organizers Kinesthetic Representations

Visual Representations? Mental Pictures Symbols Graphic Organizers Kinesthetic Representations Physical Models

Mental Pictures Try one. rubbish photosynthesis exoskeleton mimicry

Graphic Organizers The Frayer Model: DefinitionCharacteristics The word: _______________ ExamplesNon-examples

Graphic Organizers The Frayer Model:

Kinesthetic – A Tree Leaves Inner Bark Outer Bark Heartwood Cambium Sapwood Roots

Physical Models Think of at least four models that could be used at each grade. 3 rd grade 4 th grade 5 th grade

Deepen Understanding Possible Sentences cloudsfront rainhumidity predictair mass weatherpressure occluded

Deepen Understanding Semantic Mapping Water Words

Deepen Understanding Venn Diagrams

Deepen Understanding Semantic Feature Analysis Animals Lives on land Lives in the water It Flies Has a shell Has scales Has feathers Eats meat, Plants or both Squirrel Raccoon Pelican Crow Cow Turtle Fox Lion Alligator Lizard Salamander Fish Penguin Snake grasshopper clam

Deepen Understanding Clue Webs What’s another When does it happen? What is the word for it? ____________________ opposite of it? ________________ ____________________ _________________ Unknown word/object: _____________________ Where is it? What does it look, smell, sound, What does it do? _____________ taste,and/or feel like? ____________________ _____________ __________________________ ____________________

Deepen Understanding Creating Analogies is to

Deepen Understanding Creating Analogies is to ________ as

Inferring Meaning from Context 1.Play and Question 2.Slow Advance 3.Stop and Rewind 4.Play and Question 5.Stop, Drop Back and Fast Forward

WORD GAMES Science Match MeScience Pyramid Fill-in-the Blank StoryScience Pictionary Science Pass-It-OnScience Charades Science BingoScience Football Science PasswordScience Baseball Science ScrambleSci. Vocab. Bee

Incidental Learning Create a vocabulary-rich environment.

Incidental Learning Create semantic cluster walls. What is wrong with this wall?

Incidental Learning Provide wide reading experiences.

Incidental Learning Carefully select read-aloud experiences.

Assessing Vocabulary Skills “Vocabulary tests that ask students to match the word with the dictionary meaning will not give you useful information.”

Ask students to: Write their own definition of the word. Create and explain a symbol representing the word. Draw a picture that represents meaning. Give an example that represents the meaning. Create a concept map of Frayer Model of the word. Use their rich vocabulary forever!