Increasing vocabulary with a kinesthetic activity
Abstract
This effective practice suggests a creative approach for learning new words that is engaging and fun for students. The strategy was contributed by Sarah Kurachek in March 2006 via the America Learns Network.Issue
Learning new vocabulary can seem boring and be ineffectual if students are asked simply to memorize words by rote.Action
AmeriCorps member, Sarah Kurachek used this innovative technique to allow students to have fun while learning new words:
Materials needed
- Dictionary
- Pen/Pencil
- Paper
- Imagination
Learning Strategy
The activity was implemented with a group of three 10th grade English students, charged with learning ten new vocabulary words weekly.
Step 1
Use a dictionary to look up the definitions of each word. Students write the definitions in their notebooks and come up with sentences for each word.
Step 2
- Talk to your students about sculptures. Discuss that sculptures convey a message, are usually completely solid, and do not often have moving parts.
- Tell students that they should become "human sculptures" of a word. Provide an example of what a human sculpture of one of their words might look like (e.g., if the word is "scold," look angry and point to another student while that student hides her head in her hands).
Step 3
Leave the students to themselves for about a minute so they can choose one word to "sculpt." It isn't necessary to leave the room, just give them space to do their work.
Step 4
When students are ready they form their "human sculpture" of one of their vocabulary words, and the tutor should guess the word. You can repeat this exercise with as many words as you like.
Context
The contributor of this literacy strategy, Sarah Kurachek, joined City of Lakes AmeriCorps after graduating from Duke University in 2004. She tutors and mentors 15 students in small group and on-on-one settings at Minneapolis North High School.
One of America Learns core activities involves facilitating nationwide tutor-to-tutor and mentor-to-mentor learning. The practical, easy-to-use strategies can be implemented in a variety of tutoring and mentoring environments. America Learns' internal experts and partners also create new strategies to address the challenges that tutors and mentors experience in the field on a day-to-day basis — from content issues to interpersonal social-emotional development issues.
Citation
March 2006's America Learns National Strategy of the Month: Human Sculpture Vocabulary by Sarah Kurachek at City of Lakes AmeriCorps.http://americalearns.net/strategy.htm
Outcome
This activity helped students increase their vocabulary, and have fun while doing so. This is also a great way for kinesthetic learners to acquire new words.Posted On
August 9, 2006For More Information