Introduce Vocabulary: Kindergarten ABC (Rogers)

From FreeReading

What to Do

Prepare

Select three Tier Two vocabulary words to teach your students. A list of suggested words appears below. Write the vocabulary words on the board or on chart paper.

Model/Instruct

1. Introduce the story.

Today we are going to read a story entitled Kindergarten ABC.

2. Introduce the three vocabulary words you have chosen.

Before we read the story, I want to introduce some new words that we will come across. Please repeat each word after I say it.

3. Read the story.

Let’s read the story. Make sure to listen for today’s vocabulary words and to think about how they are used in the story. If you hear a vocabulary word while I am reading, raise your hand.

4. Define key vocabulary words. See definitions below.

Let’s think about our vocabulary words. The word ______________ means ____________. Does anyone remember how this word was used in the text?

Call on students to answer the question. Then refer to the text to show how the word was used in context. Repeat this process for each vocabulary word.

Practice

Now let’s practice what we’ve learned.

acorn

Acorn means a nut that grows on an oak tree; inside it is the seed for another oak tree. What’s the word?

Look at those squirrels gathering acorns! Did you know if you plant an acorn an oak tree will grow?

I’m going to name some items. If you think the item is about the same size as the nut from an oak tree, say acorn. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• A doghouse
• A tire
• A marble
• A peanut
• An eraser

calendar

Calendar means the pages that people use to keep track of days and months. What’s the word?

The woman carried her calendar everywhere so that she knew what she was doing everyday. If you wonder when summer is coming, you can look on the calendar and count the days.

I’m going to name some words. If you think you’d see the word written on the pages we use to keep track of days and months, say calendar. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Shoe
• Milk
• Tuesday
• January
• Week

easel

Easel means the stand that artists rest their paper or canvas on while they are painting.

This easel can be moved anywhere in the classroom. You don’t have to use an easel to paint a picture, but it makes it easier.

I’m going to name some materials. If you think a stand for holding paper or canvas could be made from the material, say easel. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Wood
• Metal
• Bubblegum
• Straw
• Plastic

pretend

Pretend means to make believe. What’s the word?

All children love to pretend when they’re playing. Have you ever pretended to be sick so your mom would let you stay home?

I’m going to name some jobs. If you think you could only do the job right now by making believe, say pretend. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Astronaut
• Student
• Ballerina
• Teacher
• Paper delivery person

scavenger

Scavenger means a person or animal who searches to find food or other items. What’s the word?

Some animals, like buzzards, are scavengers because they look for food that other animals already caught. If you’re on a scavenger hunt, you look for things that are hidden.

I’m going to name some actions. If you think you would do the action when you’re searching for items, say scavenger. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Sleep
• Sit
• Look
• Run
• Seek

Adjust

For Advanced Students:

If time permits, have students create more examples for the vocabulary words.

For Struggling Students:

If time permits, have students record the words on a Vocabulary Discovery Chart or in a Word Journal.

For ELL Students:

In order to help ELL students learn the words, it may be helpful to use realia and/or to teach cognates.

Related activities

• All Vocabulary Activities