Vocabulary is a huge part of comprehension. It kind of goes without saying that if you don’t understand the words, you won’t make meaning of what you’re reading. Helping kids learn new vocabulary words is a worthwhile activity for this very reason.
This summer, I’m going to continue the vocabulary learning with this simple comic strip vocabulary words activity. The comic strip look adds a little fun to it, I think.
*The free download can be found towards the END of this post.
**This post contains affiliate links.
FREE Vocabulary Words Activity Pack
To prep this activity, I printed the 100+ vocabulary cards onto colored paper. {You do not have to print them all. Just choose a few or type your own on the editable page.}
I cut all the cards out with my paper cutter. {I do not plan to use all the cards this summer, but I may continue this through next school year, too!} I folded them and stuck them in an old, washed out peanut butter jar.
I printed multiple copies of the vocabulary words comic strip {note: there are two different versions in the download} and a stapled them into a “Vocabulary Power Journal” for each of my older 3 kiddos.
About two times a week {which seems totally doable}, we’ll pick a new word to study. According to the page I printed, we will
- read the definition,
- put the definition in our own words,
- draw a picture of the word’s meaning,
- write a sentence with the word,
- and write the opposite meaning of the word {the other version asks kids to write/draw another meaning to the word}
I particularly like the version that asks kids to write the opposite meaning of the word so it helps to solidify the word’s meaning better. In order to use a word correctly in speech, you have to know when you DO and DON’T use it, right?
The ultimate goal is to get kids using the vocabulary words correctly in conversation. I plan on making it my goal to use them often to reinforce them. It might even be fun to have a word of the day kind of thing where we make a big deal when one of us uses the word, but we’ll see…
10 Authors that Use Extraordinary Vocabulary Words
Here is a list of authors that use some fantastic vocabulary words. Many of the words in my word list were chosen from their books! Included beside each author’s name are a couple of their books that are full of vocabulary words
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- William Steig – Sylvester and the Magic Pebble & Dr. DeSoto
- Kevin Henkes– Chrysanthemum & Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
- Virginia Lee Burton– The Little House & Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
- Leon Lionni– Swimmy & An Extraordinary Egg
- E.B. White– Charlotte’s Web & The Trumpet of the Swan
- Tim Egan– Metropolitan Cow & Friday Night at Hodges’ Cafe
- Steven Kellogg– Paul Bunyan & Johnny Appleseed
- James Marshall– The 3 Little Pigs & Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- Patricia Polacco– Thank You, Mr. Falker & The Keeping Quilt
- Cynthia Rylant– When I was Young in the Mountains & The Relatives Came
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Using Context to Teach Vocabulary
Before They Read – Teaching Vocabulary
~Becky
Elizabeth Frederiksen says
May 25, 2016 at 11:57 pmHi Becky, I want to thank you for all of the fabulous resources you create! I’ve been going crazy buying/downloading many of them. Elizabeth
thisreadingmama says
May 26, 2016 at 5:24 amYou’re welcome! 🙂
Jennifer Bruce says
October 24, 2016 at 9:44 amJust dropping a quick note, letting you know that I am a long time follower. I printed this vocab booklet this weekend to add to our studies this week. I feel like we are using books more and more these days for everything in our language arts studies and this is such a fun and perfect fit. Thanks for offering something so useful for free.
thisreadingmama says
July 9, 2017 at 7:40 amAwesome! So glad it was what you needed! 🙂
Clarissa Law says
March 16, 2017 at 3:54 amHi Becky, Could you please tell me the kind of font you use for the vocabulary? They look very nice to me! Clarissa
thisreadingmama says
July 9, 2017 at 7:40 amIt’s called KB Plant Earth. I bought it on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Tinia Browne says
May 21, 2017 at 2:20 pmThanks a zillion (lol). Your resources are a blessing.
thisreadingmama says
May 22, 2017 at 5:46 amYou’re welcome! 🙂
Sheela says
June 19, 2017 at 11:55 amThanks!!! Love it awesome resource my daughter loves it. We chose 2 words a day!!
thisreadingmama says
June 19, 2017 at 11:29 pmAwesome!!
Martha Mokalei - Auckland NZ says
June 29, 2017 at 7:20 amHi Becky,
THANK YOU..these are AMAZING..I’m a classroom teacher in Auckland, NZ. I came across your site on Pinterest. My little kiddies are going to benefit a lot from these resources, as I’m trying to expand their vocabulary. Thank you kindly for making these fantastic resources accessible! 🙂
thisreadingmama says
July 6, 2017 at 8:47 pmYou’re welcome!
xiaoxiao says
August 7, 2017 at 4:50 amC.B. White should be E.B.White 🙂
thisreadingmama says
August 7, 2017 at 11:59 amFixed it! I accidentally used the initials of someone in our family for that one. Oops!
Dee says
January 17, 2018 at 8:21 amHi Thanks so much for your wonderfully created and thoughtful resources. Can you tell me the grade level you had in mind when you created this list? I’m really curious as I am using it in our home school and would love to gauge it thanks so much!
thisreadingmama says
January 21, 2018 at 8:47 amI’d recommend the printables for 1st and up, but using the words in every day language starts at birth. 😉
Beth Crawford says
January 20, 2018 at 11:08 amMamma-
Do you by chance have a Kindergarten version of this? I’ve been stymied, trying to incorporate vocab with my class, beyond the typical write the word and sketch its meaning. One that’s editable? (I don’t want much) ;O)
I love so many of your products, and I thank you again and again for providing so many useful, fun freebies. I follow you on Facebook.
thisreadingmama says
January 21, 2018 at 8:42 amI don’t have a Kindergarten version. Sorry!
smita says
February 27, 2018 at 6:51 amThe vocabulary booklet is an amazing idea. Thanks a ton!
thisreadingmama says
February 28, 2018 at 7:37 pmYou’re very welcome!
lea Storm says
April 14, 2018 at 3:27 pmDo the images on each vocabulary word slip have a meaning?
thisreadingmama says
April 15, 2018 at 7:27 amNo. 🙂
Michelle Estrella says
April 18, 2018 at 1:31 pmIs there a definition list or a recommended place for age appropriate definitions? Thanks! Looking forward to implementing this in my classroom
thisreadingmama says
April 20, 2018 at 7:08 amI don’t have a definition list, but we have this dictionary: https://amzn.to/2K1rdOV
This post may also be helpful in teaching vocabulary: https://thisreadingmama.com/teaching-vocabulary-without-dictionaries/