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 8th grade50,000 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 128.0• 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

photosynthesisexoskeletonmimicry

Graphic Organizers

The Frayer Model:Definition Characteristics

The word: _______________

Examples Non-examples

Graphic Organizers

The Frayer Model:

Kinesthetic – A Tree

LeavesInner BarkOuter BarkHeartwoodCambiumSapwoodRoots

Physical Models

Think of at least four models that could be used at each grade.

3rd grade4th grade5th grade

Deepen Understanding

• Possible Sentences

clouds frontrain humiditypredict air massweather pressure

occluded

Deepen Understanding

• Semantic Mapping

Water Words

Deepen Understanding

• Venn Diagrams

Deepen Understanding

• Semantic Feature AnalysisAnimals Lives

on landLives in the water

ItFlies

Has a shell

Has scales

Has feathers

Eats meat,Plants or both

SquirrelRaccoonPelicanCrowCowTurtleFoxLionAlligatorLizardSalamanderFishPenguinSnakegrasshopperclam

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 Me Science PyramidFill-in-the Blank Story Science PictionaryScience Pass-It-On Science CharadesScience Bingo Science FootballScience Password Science BaseballScience Scramble Sci. Vocab. Bee

Incidental Learning

• Create a vocabulary-rich environment.

Incidental Learning

• Create semantic cluster walls.

What is wrongwith 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!