Literacy Bin Activities to Build Vocabulary and Word Skills

The Literacy Bin Activities presented in this chapter are examples of
ideas you could use to build vocabulary and word skills. Many activities
may also help reinforce other objectives, such as constructing background
knowledge or developing fluency (and may appear in those chapters, too),
yet their emphasis here is on working with words, their meanings, and their
structure. A general description of each activity and suggestions for ways
in which it could be modified are provided. Information you might wish
to place in the Literacy Bin compartment, such as instructions or student
materials, are also listed (see Appendix A for examples). Use the activities
featured here, modify them as you wish, or create your own using these as
models. As you review the activities, you might also consider materials you
have available or can readily locate to use with an activity.
Imaginative Phonics
Students take a word list from the Literacy Bin
and read each word very slowly, pronouncing
each sound (see Figure 30). This comical
activity encourages students to apply their skills
with letter–sound relationships to unfamiliar
content words. Including the names of
significant individuals related to your theme,
such as explorer Giovanni da Verrazano, and
places of historic significance, such as the
Caribbean, will help students tackle these tricky
stumbling blocks. Students can perform in front
of an audience, invite classmates to recite words
with them, use technology to record their
presentation, or even dress in character.
Figure 30. Literacy Bin
Activity Game Board Square
for Imaginative Phonics64
Syllabification Snap-Alongs
Students use a word list from the Literacy Bin
and create a rhythmic performance by breaking
words into syllables (see Figure 31). Encouraging
students to break apart multisyllabic words
will help them with many other commonly
used word-attack skills. Students can create
an instrument or use one they already have.
They can also group words with similar syllable
patterns or be whimsical. You might wish to
display each student’s word list during the
performances.
Imaginative Characters
Assuming the role of a comical character, the
“Pronunci-ator,” students practice pronouncing
words from a vocabulary list in the Literacy
Bin (see Figure 32). This activity helps students
master difficult, multisyllabic words. Also,
including words that stray from the standard
rules of pronunciation may be a good way to
clarify some of these troublesome words and
challenge students as well (i.e., a Literacy Bin
featuring the science theme electricity could
include the word solder, pronounced “sodder”). Students may want to work with others
and stage a comical competition. Students can
listen to words using an online audio dictionary.
Imaginative Word Games
Students use a vocabulary list from the Literacy
Bin and locate root words and prefixes (see
Figure 33). This activity is good if you’ve
provided instruction in Greek and Latin roots,
and your keyword list includes appropriate
words. Other word-attack skills, such as those
that uncover word derivatives, are also good
choices for this activity (e.g., government,
Figure 32. Literacy Bin
Activity Game Board Square
for Imaginative Characters
Figure 33. Literacy Bin
Activity Game Board Square
for Imaginative Word Games
Figure 31. Literacy Bin
Activity Game Board Square
for Syllabification SnapAlongs65
govern, governor). You might have students use letters in a word to make
new words as an alternative or a challenge.
Spelling and Word Close-Ups
Students use a vocabulary list and rewrite words in a fancy style. Encourage
students to carefully craft every letter for those troublesome and tricky
words (see Figure 34). This activity helps build
students’ spelling skills within a content area
and strengthens their word consciousness,
too. You might want students to select five
tricky words from the list and feature them in
one picture. Using computers and any word
program that has fun fonts is another way
to engage students. Another variation of this
game is to have students create a flag or poster
for the time period or theme featured in the
Literacy Bin (e.g., prehistoric times, dinosaurs)
and decorate the flag with appropriate
vocabulary words.
Drawing Activities
Students create pictures of the words on their
vocabulary list (see Figure 35). Encouraging
students to attach a visual image to the new or
unfamiliar word may help some students create
a memorable connection to the word. This
strategy works well in the early elementary
grade levels as well as at the upper elementary
levels. You might wish to have students create
digital books and incorporate photographs or
other visual technology.
Drama Activities
In “Casting Call!” students act out words from a keyword list (see Figure
36). Suggesting that students use simple props may help them with words
that are difficult to demonstrate through actions. Recalling the comical ways
Figure 34. Literacy Bin
Activity Game Board Square
for Spelling and Word CloseUps
Figure 35. Literacy Bin
Activity Game Board Square
for Drawing Activities66
in which students may perform content words
often enables others to remember the meaning
of the word. Students may wish to work alone
or in small groups. Suggesting that students
consider three different ways to convey a word
meaning may encourage a deeper level of
understanding.
Use of Online Websites
Students are provided with websites to visit
and are asked to locate specific words or
other targeted categories of words related
to the thematic Literacy Bin (see Figure 37).
This activity helps students develop their
online reading skills while also strengthening
their content vocabulary. Many educational
sites also include links that may help students
with difficult content words (i.e., many sites
highlight words that link to definitions provided
in a dictionary or other resource). You might
wish to include some type of web or chart for
students to use as they search online.