Incorporate the Strategies of Word Walls and Word Maps in the classroom

Updated: Feb 26

M27 U3 Activity 1: Strategies for Vocabulary Development

A word Wall Activity

Word Wall:

The Word Wall vocabulary strategy is a visual aid commonly used in language instruction. I have used a similar strategy to the word wall before by putting some regular vocabulary on a tree, incorporating both Chinese, and English, and then assessing students' recall. However, after more research about it, I am trying to design more engaging games and tailor the word walls to specific subjects or themes as needed. This could help my Chinese learners reinforce new words, boost language understanding, and give visual support for word meanings. Word walls are great for teamwork too. Students can actively contribute to the word wall, transforming it into a dynamic and interactive tool for shared vocabulary development.

Activity: Word Wall for Chinese Radicals

Chinese radicals are essential components of Chinese characters that convey meaning or provide clues to pronunciation. Here's how I will create a Chinese radical lesson using the Word Wall vocabulary strategy:

1. Select Radicals: I will choose a set of Chinese radicals that are commonly used and have a significant impact on character meanings. For example, it might focus on radicals like 心 (heart), 木 (wood), or 日 (sun).

2. Introduce Radicals: Create visual aids for each selected radical. Include the Chinese character, its pinyin pronunciation, and a simple image that represents its meaning. Display these materials prominently in the classroom.

3. Build Word Wall: Design a Word Wall display where each radical has its dedicated section. Attach the visual aids to the wall, organizing them in a way that is visually appealing and accessible to students.

4. Add Characters: Below each radical, add examples of characters that contain the radical. Include the characters' meanings and pronunciations. I will categorize these characters based on themes or topics to make the information more digestible.

5. Interactive Activities: I will have them match characters with their radicals, and create sentences using characters from the Word Wall to reinforce their understanding of radicals. Sach as:

Radical Match-Up
1. Prepare cards with Chinese characters on one set and their corresponding radicals on another set.
2. Have students match the characters with their radicals, encouraging speed and accuracy.
Sentence Creation Relay:
1. Prepare cards with Chinese characters on one set and their corresponding radicals on another set.
2. Divide students into teams and give each team a set of characters from the Word Wall.
3. The teams race to create grammatically correct sentences using the characters and radicals.
4. The first team to complete a sentence correctly scores a point.
Radical Bingo:
1. Create bingo cards with different radicals instead of numbers.
2. Call out characters, and students mark the corresponding radicals on their bingo cards.

6. Assessment: By the end of the class, I will evaluate students' ability to recognize, understand, and use the radicals in characters. This can include quizzes, writing assignments, or oral assessments.

After this class:

1. Regular Review: Encourage regular review sessions where students revisit the Word Wall. This repetition helps solidify their understanding of radicals and their ability to recognize and use them in characters.

2. Expand Vocabulary: As students become more comfortable with the initial set of radicals, periodically introduce new radicals to expand their vocabulary. Repeat the process of introducing, displaying, and practicing with the new radicals.

3. Integration into Lessons: I can integrate the Word Wall into my regular lessons. Use examples from the Word Wall to illustrate how radicals contribute to the meaning or pronunciation of characters.

Word Map activity

Word Maps:

Activity: Chinese Word Maps - Exploring Locations

Materials:

Large sheets of paper or whiteboards
Markers or colored pencils
Sticky notes or index cards
Chinese character and vocabulary list related to locations (e.g., park, school, restaurant)

Procedure:

Introduction and Selection of Location Vocabulary:
1. Introduce the new topic and carefully choose a set of Chinese location-related words that align with the lesson.
Demonstration and Color Coding:
1. Explain and demonstrate how to complete the activity.
2. Implement color-coding to represent different categories (e.g., blue for definition, green for sentences, etc.).
Creating Word Maps:
1. Assign each word to small groups of students or pairs.
2. Provide each group with a large sheet of paper or a whiteboard.
3. In the center of the paper, write the selected location-related word.
Branching Out:
1. Have students create branches extending from the central word, adding the following information:

1. Definition: Write a concise definition or description of the location.
2. Use in a Sentence: Provide a sentence where the word is used correctly.
3. Synonyms: List synonyms or similar words related to the location.
4. Draw a Picture: Encourage students to draw a visual representation of the location.
Presentation and Discussion:
1. After a designated time, have each group present their word map to the class.
2. Facilitate discussions about the choices made, linguistic aspects, and the creativity of the visuals.
Class Consolidation:
1. After all groups have presented, consolidate the information on a larger display (e.g., a class word wall).
2. Discuss commonalities and differences between the various word maps.
Reflection:
1. Conclude the activity with a reflection session where students discuss what they learned, how the word maps helped them understand location-related vocabulary, and any challenges they faced.

More resources:

Interactive Word Wall: Management in the Active Classroom

Word Map activity: A Teaching Routine for Academic Vocabulary

References: