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8 Social Studies Vocabulary Activities You Must Do with Your Students

Social studies vocabulary activities.

Do you ever feel like you do the same vocabulary activities over and over again and want to try something new? Or do you feel like you don’t really have the time in the school day to prioritize social studies vocabulary activities? This blog post will give you 8 social studies vocabulary strategies to help you succeed! Even better, many of these activities are perfect for distance learning !

Social Studies Vocabulary: The Struggle

Before we get into the activities, there is some surprising, but important information to share that can change our perspective about how we teach vocabulary. While we were doing some research about the best vocabulary strategies to use in social studies, we found this 2018 study from Hannah Chai and V. Lee Welz from Wright State University . This article featured a chart that demonstrated how social studies textbooks expose students to approximately five times the number of words as each of the other core subject areas. For specific examples, take a look at the chart below.

social-studies-vocabulary-activities

In our teaching experience, we have found trying to do too much or teach too much content, and in this case, too many vocabulary words, does not yield lasting results. Instead of trying to teach all of the vocabulary words shared in a unit or in a textbook, select the most important 20-25 or so words to emphasize more. This is especially important as it takes at least 10 exposures to a word for students to understand it well enough to use it, as cited by Aimee Alexander-Shea in this study . 

Social Studies Vocabulary Strategies

Quizlet is an amazing free resource to help students with social studies vocabulary… simply create a set with your vocabulary words or find a set that already exists and duplicate it. Quizlet is also a great tool to help students practice vocabulary independently. We especially recommend using the flashcards and playing the Match game or Quizlet Live with your students for engaging practice.

Frayer Model

The Frayer Model is a popular graphic organizer tool that can help students build their vocabulary. This vocabulary chart works great on a handout or for Google Slides. Traditionally, the Frayer Model has students incorporate the definition of a word, an image or picture of it, and both examples and non-examples of the word. In our own teaching, we have found that a variation with the official definition, a definition in the student’s own words, an example sentence, and an image or picture are a better fit. You can take a closer look here for a sample version on Google Slides.

frayer-model-template

Semantic Mapping

Semantic mapping, or a word sort, is a wonderful way for students to make connections between different vocabulary words, especially with social studies vocabulary. In this activity, students can sort words into a chart with some basic categories, such as people, places, inventions, religions, or any other categories that make sense. For a more advanced option, students can decide which categories they would like to create. You can do this on a Google Doc or handout, but our favorite method is using a Google Slideshow with moveable tiles that students can drag into the correct column!

Synonyms + Antonyms

One way to improve our understanding of vocabulary is with synonyms and antonyms. We create self-grading Google Forms with a variety of synonyms and antonyms of different vocabulary words. This helps students make connections between different words, as well as helps them understand the nuance between certain terms.

social-studies-vocabulary-activities

Related Words

One of our favorite social studies vocabulary activities is using related words. In this type of activity, students look at three sample words that are somewhat related to one of their vocabulary words and must figure out which vocabulary word they are referring to. It is a fun mystery challenge for students and makes for a great game or board race, in addition to a simple activity on Google Forms.

Fill in the Blank

You probably have already used fill in the blank vocabulary activities, as these are commonly provided by textbooks. This type of activity usually contains sentences with a word missing, and students must decide which vocabulary word makes the most sense to fill in the blank. This is a simple activity to set-up (we use self-grading Google Forms) and can help students with context.

Historical Fiction Journal

A fun writing assignment that showcases student creativity is a historical fiction journal! We love using these as impromptu activities in many units, and they also work great for vocabulary. In a historical fiction journal, students take on the role of a historical figure that lived during the time period they are studying. You can have students incorporate as many vocabulary words as they can in their response. This is one of the most advanced strategies listed here as students must see if they can fit the word in the context of what they are writing about.

Vocabulary Bingo

social-studies-vocabulary-activities-bingo

While it is pretty simple, one of our favorite social studies vocabulary activities is some good old-fashioned bingo! This can also be a perfect activity for a Friday or on a transition day between larger activities. Simply have students fill in their vocabulary words onto a bingo grid (5X5 chart with a free space in the middle). Then, read aloud the definitions, and students must figure out which vocabulary word you are referring to.

Social Studies Vocabulary Word Wall

A list of social studies vocabulary activities would not be complete without including a word wall! Displaying a word wall in your classroom can be a great visual reminder of the vocabulary you are studying. While word walls take many forms, we prefer using a version with the word, the definition, and an image.

social-studies-vocabulary-word-wall

Now that we have shared all about how we teach vocabulary to our students, we encourage you to give these activities a try! You can either create your own activities following the framework we have described or check out the versions we already have created here ! We currently have versions for most of the Ancient Civilizations curriculum, and will start work on US History versions this summer!

social-studies-vocabulary-activities-pin

Are you looking for some new teaching ideas to engage your students in your social studies class? If so, you’ll love our FREE guide: 5 Creative Projects to Ignite Student Engagement in Your Social Studies Class . These activities have both printable and digital options and can work for any social studies subject!

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Vocabulary Strategies: How to Teach Social Studies Effectively

Why are research-based vocabulary strategies important in social studies.

Teaching vocabulary strategies is essential in all classes. Without it, students in a social studies classroom will struggle to comprehend the content.

Like any other skill that we need to know in life, students need to be taught vocabulary terms using a well-thought-out and systematic approach. Providing students with vocabulary strategies they can use to learn terms will improve their vocabulary reading strategies and vocabulary comprehension strategies.

            It’s well established that vocabulary is the most powerful predictor of reading comprehension. These skills improve with an understanding of vocabulary.

Below you will learn about beneficial vocabulary strategies that are straightforward, can be implemented in your social studies classroom tomorrow, and are research-based.

Vocabulary Strategies: #1 Think-Pair-Share 

At the start of a new instructional unit, teachers can have students use the think-pair-share method:

  • First, students will get a topic or a set of vocabulary words. They will think about the word’s meanings independently.
  • Next, students will pair up with a partner to share their ideas.
  • The class will discuss as a whole group.

When teaching the bill to law process, introduce the lesson with a question. For instance, ask who is involved in the law-making process. Or relate the concept to the students’ lives by asking how they’ve been personally affected by local, state, or federal laws.

Most importantly, giving students the space to communicate and hear the concepts can improves their vocabulary. 

Vocabulary reading strategies like think-pair-share give students the time to communicate their ideas and make connections to their lives.

Vocabulary Strategies: #2 Rating System 

Students can use a rating system to evaluate their understanding of words they’ll encounter during the upcoming lesson.

In this activity, the teacher provides students with a list of words. Students indicate next to each word their level of comfortability.

  • A ‘one’ if they can use the word in a sentence and understand its meaning without any help.
  • A ‘two’ if they have heard of the word and understand it but would not be able to describe it without support.
  • A ‘three’ if it is a new word they do not know (Alexander-Shea, 2011, p. 95–103). 

This rating system can help inform the teacher’s instruction. 

Research-based vocabulary strategies like the rating system can help inform the teacher's instruction.

Vocabulary Strategies: #3 Presentations and audio

Third, a recent study took a closer look at how PowerPoint presentations can improve teaching. It’s beneficial for teaching the pronunciation of new words, providing direct instruction with visuals, and creating review games (Nam and Trinh, 2012, p.15–22).

Social Studies teachers in the United States have access to PowerPoint and Google Slides, making it an easy and inexpensive method to teach new vocabulary content. Google Slides gives teachers the flexibility to add audio to their presentations. This way, students can hear the word and definition being pronounced. In addition, teachers can add read-aloud to any digital vocabulary activity.

I work with students who typically don’t read at grade level, so it’s been a lifesaver to include  vocabulary activities  with a read-aloud option. Adding review activities to my teacher toolbox has improved my effectiveness as a teacher. Try out the free vocabulary activities (BOOM Card deck) and see how easy they are to include in your classroom instruction! 

Adding audio to an activity helps struggling readers, and it's a simple way to use vocabulary strategies to improve vocabulary comprehension.

Vocabulary Strategies: #4 ideas for vocabulary Word Wall

A word wall can help reinforce vocabulary development throughout a lesson. 

In a research report, authors Jackson and Narvaez quoted Stahl and Fairbanks from 1986, “Word walls serve as visual scaffolds and are a classroom strategy used to reinforce reading and language arts instruction. Research shows a strong relationship between student word knowledge and academic achievement.” The article written by Jackson and Narvaez (2013) describes the five steps needed for a teacher to create a word wall specific to the content they teach. 

Step #1: Organize the vocabulary words with real objects and/or pictures

  • Spend time planning how to create the word wall. Gather words previously taught. In addition, include words from previous grade levels that may appear again and include new concepts.
  • The terms are paired with real objects or pictures. 
  • The words establish patterns, which helps determine how to construct the word wall. The purpose is to organize the material in the unit, similar to a graphic organizer.

Step #2: Students create a worksheet that mirrors the vocabulary word wall

  • Have students add to their organizer throughout the unit with the information taught from the word wall.

Step #3: construct the word wall

  • Hang the word wall in an area of the classroom where all students can access it. 
  • Word walls are usually built across many days and finished as a unit nears completion.
  • “A lesson has the most potential when the construction of the word wall aligns with the lesson, and students are allowed to participate in the construction process.” (Jackson and Narvaez, 2013, p. 42–49). In other words, s tudents are more likely to use the word wall and understand the vocabulary words used when they help create it. 

Step #4: Build the word wall together as a class

  • After each concept is taught, the class adds meaningful objects, pictures, or student-written definitions to the wall. 

Step #5: Students complete engaging vocabulary activities 

  • Completing the handout helps make sure that students always have a copy of the word wall.
  • Teachers can take a picture of the completed word wall to give students a visual reminder. 
  • Plus, teachers can keep this picture to help plan the unit again in the future. 
  • The word wall should include easy-to-read titles, student-created work, and visual supports. According to Nam (2010), visual representations (like pictures and drawings) can promote vocabulary retention when students explain the terms in their own words. 

Vocabulary Strategies: #5 Marzano’s Six-Step approach

Marzano’s six-step process includes: explain, restating, showing, engaging, discussing, and playing. This vocabulary comprehension strategy helps teach vocabulary using explicit instruction. Marzano has been leading the research of vocabulary best practices for years. His goal is to provide activities for students to help them understand new vocabulary terms in-depth.

  • First, provide students with a description or give an example. Examples can include telling a story about the term, showing a video, finding and creating pictures that help explain the word, and using a PowerPoint.
  • Next, have students restate the explanation from step #1 in their own words. This should include the student’s ideas, not the teachers. Examples can include journaling or sharing information with their neighbor. 
  • Then, ask students to create a picture, drawing, or symbol to represent the terms. 
  • In addition, provide activities for students to test their knowledge of the words. Examples can include having students highlight prefixes, suffixes, and root words, sort or classify words based on characteristics using a graphic organizer or add to their notes. 
  • Have students discuss the vocabulary terms by explaining their pictures from (step #3), explain new information they’ve learned about the terms, and clarify any misunderstandings.
  • Finally, students can play games that review the terms. Examples can include Pictionary, Charades, Jeopardy, Catch Phrase, BINGO, the fly swatter game, etc. 

Don’t have the time to make any games? No problem! Use interactive vocabulary activities like these to help students retain the instruction by using task cards and BOOM Cards!

How can research-based vocabulary strategies help struggling readers?

  • Vocabulary development occurs when used as a tool to support learning instead of something that takes time away from learning.
  • “When students encounter real-life problems, they must be able to sort through large masses of materials and create viable options or solutions and identify and use appropriate criteria for evaluation” (Larson, L. C., & Miller, T. N., 2011, p. 123). 
  • These skills improve with an understanding of vocabulary. As Shannon describes, “It is well established that vocabulary is the most powerful predictor of reading comprehension” (pg. 18). 
  • In conclusion, gaining vocabulary skills can help students interpret the world around them. 

Beneficial vocabulary strategies include the think-pair-share method to help students communicate about their vocabulary terms with other classmates. Students can use a rating system to self-assess their understanding of terms. PowerPoint presentations or Google Slides with audio can help students learn the pronunciation of words and to provide direct instruction. Help provide a meaningful experience with vocabulary instruction with the use of a word wall. Finally, Marzano’s six-step process can help students learn vocabulary terms. By assisting students in explaining, restating, showing, engaging, discussing, and playing with vocabulary terms, you’re sure to help grow students’ understanding of social studies content.

Would you like to receive a FREE lesson to teach your students about the Federalists AND see how we utilize these vocabulary strategies in our lessons? Sign up below!

Works Cited:

Alexander-Shea, Aimee (2011). Redefining Vocabulary: The New Learning Strategy for Social Studies. Social Studies, 102(3), 95–103. https://doi-org.wgu.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/00377996.2010.509371

Jackson, J., & Narvaez, R. (2013). Interactive Word Walls. Science and Children, 51(1), 42–49. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.wgu.idm.oclc.org/login. aspx  direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1033687&site=eds-live&scope=site

Larson, L. C., & Miller, T. N. (2011). 21st Century Skills: Prepare Students for the Future Kappa Delta Pi Record, 47(3), 121–123.

Nam, J. (2010). Linking Research and Practice: Effective Strategies for Teaching Vocabulary in the ESL Classroom. TESL Canada Journal, 28(1), 127–135. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.wgu.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct

Nam, T. T., & Trinh, L. Q. (2012). Powerpoint as a Potential Tool to Learners’ Vocabulary Retention: Empirical Evidences from a Vietnamese Secondary Education Setting. Journal on English Language Teaching, 2(4), 15–22. Retrieved from http://search.    

Shannon, J. (2019). Supporting student vocabulary development. Practical Literacy: The Early & Primary Years, 24(2), 18–20.

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Meet Alicia

social studies vocabulary worksheets

I’m thrilled you’re here! Hi, I’m Alicia.

I got my Bachelor of Science in Education at BGSU, where I received my Intervention Specialist License (Mild to Moderate). Since then, I’ve earned my Master of Education in Instructional Design. I’ve been working as a social studies intervention specialist at the high school level since 2015!

I provide small group instruction to students in my special education classroom and co-taught settings. Every classroom has students with diverse learning needs, so my goal is to make differentiated resources appropriate for all students in grades 6-12. I’m looking forward to growing together!

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Social Studies Vocabulary Worksheet Templates

Customize social studies vocabulary templates.

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Social Studies Vocabulary Templates

What are Social Studies Vocabulary Worksheets?

In social studies, kids are bound to come upon new concepts and terms with every new topic. It is vital for teachers to build in vocabulary instruction and teach vocabulary in their lessons. This will enhance comprehension of complex non-fiction texts and their overall understanding of the subject, and worksheets can provide a helpful resource for students to reference throughout the unit.

Why Are They Important and How Are They Best Used?

Using word maps or vocab worksheets is an excellent way to engage the class in researching the definition of a new word as well as thinking about the term or concept in a variety of ways. Learners can further their retention by illustrating and providing examples for each new word. These graphic organizers, Frayer models, and flashcards are perfect for this. Teachers can edit them and add beautiful, content-specific art to customize their worksheets for each new topic.

Building a Strong Foundation

At the start of a new unit or lesson, worksheets can serve as a valuable tool for building a strong foundation. By introducing new words and concepts, these worksheets help kids become familiar with the vocabulary they will encounter throughout the unit. This shared vocabulary creates a common language, allowing for better comprehension and meaningful discussions.

Reinforcing and Reviewing

Regularly revisiting previously learned words is essential for long-term retention. Our handouts provide opportunities for learners to reinforce their comprehension of words and concepts. By engaging in activities that require matching definitions to words, filling in the blanks, or creating sentences, students consolidate their knowledge and solidify their grasp of the new terms. To create an immersive learning environment, teachers can display a studies vocabulary word wall in the classroom, showcasing key terms and their definitions, serving as a constant visual reference for students to reinforce their learning and expand their vocabulary.

Independent Practice and Self-Assessment

These handouts can be assigned as independent practice activities, empowering students to take ownership of their learning. They enable learners to work at their own pace, review independently, and assess what they've learned. Through self-reflection, students can identify areas where they need additional support or further study.

Promoting Collaboration and Discussion

Collaborative learning is a powerful strategy in education. Our handouts can be incorporated into group activities or collaborative exercises. Children can work together to complete the worksheets, discuss the terms, and reinforce their understanding through peer interaction. Engaging in dialogue and sharing ideas fosters a deeper comprehension of the subject matter.

Assessing Knowledge and Identifying Gaps

Formative assessments are crucial in evaluating the mastery of vocabulary words. By reviewing completed worksheets, teachers can gauge comprehension, identify areas where they may need additional support or instruction, and tailor future lessons accordingly.

Maximizing the Effectiveness of Vocabulary Worksheets

  • Clear Instructions and Expectations : When assigning any type of worksheet, it is important to provide clear instructions and expectations. Clearly outline the purpose of the worksheet and specify the desired level of detail and accuracy in responses.
  • Varied Activities and Exercises : To cater to diverse learning styles and preferences, incorporate a variety of activities and exercises in the worksheets. Mix and match different question types, such as matching, fill in the blanks, multiple choice, and open-ended questions. This variety will keep students engaged and ensure they approach the assignment from different angles.
  • Contextualization and Real-Life Connections : Help kids understand the relevance and practicality of new words by contextualizing the terms. Relate terms to historical events, current issues, or personal experiences. By making connections to real-life scenarios, students can grasp the significance of the words and their application beyond the classroom.
  • Integrating Technology and Multimedia : Leverage the power of technology and multimedia resources to enhance the impact of digital worksheets. Utilize digital tools, interactive websites, videos, and images to supplement the worksheets and provide a more immersive learning experience. This integration of technology stimulates interest and makes the learning process dynamic and engaging.
  • Collaboration Between School and Home : Parents play a vital role in supporting their child's education. Teachers can strengthen this partnership by sharing vocabulary lists and worksheets with parents. This sharing of resources allows parents to be informed about the terms their child is learning and enables them to provide additional support at home.

Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom

Encourage parents to extend the learning experience beyond the classroom by suggesting supplementary activities and resources. Provide recommendations for books, documentaries, museum visits, or community events that relate to the topics. This collaboration between home and school creates a seamless environment for continuous learning.

These worksheets are valuable tools for enhancing students' comprehension of key terms and concepts. By incorporating them into classroom instruction and engaging parents in the learning process, educators can foster a deeper comprehension and equip students with the knowledge necessary for academic success and active citizenship. To further enhance the learning experience, consider integrating social studies pictures to create visually appealing worksheets that engage and captivate students while they explore the new terminology.

Tips for Planning Vocabulary Worksheets

  • Start with a Social Studies Picture: Incorporate visual elements by including a relevant picture. This can be an image of a historical figure, a map, or a significant event. The picture will capture students' attention and provide a visual context for the words.
  • Choose Relevant Vocabulary Words: Select words that align with the topics being covered and are appropriate for the grade level. Include terms that are essential for social studies and foster cross-disciplinary connections.
  • Utilize Word Walls and Vocabulary Cards: Create a word wall in your classroom where you prominently display the vocabulary words. This visual reference will serve as a reminder for the class throughout their learning journey. Additionally, consider creating vocabulary cards that students can use for review and practice, including the word, its definition, and a related image.
  • Explore Digital Options: Embrace technology by incorporating digital options for your worksheets. This can include interactive activities, online quizzes, or digital flashcards. Digital resources provide a dynamic and engaging learning experience.
  • Provide Context and Connections: Ensure that the words are presented in a meaningful context. Relate the words to real-life scenarios, historical events, or current issues. Encourage students to make connections between the vocabulary and their own lives, promoting deeper understanding and relevance.
  • Engage Students through Writing: Include writing exercises that allow students to apply the vocabulary words in meaningful ways. For example, ask students to write a short paragraph explaining the significance of a historical figure or to create a story using multiple vocabulary words.
  • Encourage Creativity: Empower students to create their own social studies vocabulary worksheets. Assign them to design a vocabulary worksheet for their classmates, incorporating relevant vocabulary words and engaging activities. This activity promotes deeper learning as students take ownership of their education.

By incorporating these strategies and utilizing a cross-disciplinary approach, you can create worksheets that engage, promote comprehension, and foster a love for learning in the classroom. Teaching and practicing social studies vocabulary will become more dynamic and impactful, providing students with the necessary resources, ideas, and important information to succeed in their studies while fostering a sense of community and creativity among students in the classroom.

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How to Make Social Studies Vocabulary Worksheets

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From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

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Frequently Asked Questions about Social Studies Vocabulary Worksheets

How can social studies vocabulary worksheets be adapted for different grade levels.

Explore ways to modify the complexity of vocabulary words and the types of activities based on the age and abilities of the students. Unlock your creativity and design a compelling social studies vocabulary worksheet using the available templates, which include a range of storyboard graphic organizer examples.

What are some creative ways to incorporate student ideas into social studies vocabulary worksheets?

Teachers can provide opportunities for students to contribute their own vocabulary word suggestions, design activities, or create visuals for the worksheets. This encourages student engagement and ownership in the learning process.

How can social studies vocabulary words worksheets be adapted for children with different learning styles or special needs?

Teachers can modify the format or presentation of the worksheets to accommodate different learning styles, such as providing tactile elements for kinesthetic learners or using visual aids for visual learners. For children with special needs, individualized modifications and accommodations should be made as necessary. Incorporating a social studies graphic organizer can provide students with a structured visual framework to organize and comprehend complex concepts, making it an invaluable tool for enhancing their understanding of the subject matter.

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Engaging Social Studies Students with Vocabulary Words

social studies vocabulary worksheets

Vocabulary instruction in social studies is important because it builds background knowledge that is essential when students are assigned to read complex non-fiction texts.  When students have a strong vocabulary, it makes them better readers. 

This is critically important in a word-dense subject like social studies.  I recommend teachers provide early, frequent, and targeted interventions with words.  Targeted vocabulary instruction helps students activate prior knowledge, make connections with word meanings so that texts are more comprehensive, and identify possible cultural or general misconceptions of terms.

Vocabulary Manipulative Cards

One strategy that I have found particularly useful are Vocabulary Manipulative Cards (VMCs).  These are digital or hard copy cards that students create to define, visualize, and associate word meanings through synonyms, antonyms, and analogies.  For example, if the word “trench warfare” was used in a text, students could preview this phrase prior to reading.  Students would identify other word forms such as “entrenched,” related words like “guerrilla warfare,” create synonyms such as “channel” or “canal,” write a definition in their own words, and illustrate the word meaning with primary source images.

Dictionaries are helpful but are often misused given their lack of contextual factors. Do not overemphasize teaching vocabulary in isolation.  There are limits to learning words out of context.  Text-to-speech tools are useful, but be sure to remember that some phrases are not always translatable given the relationship between content and language. Cultural and textual meanings may vary. Translation tools may not provide correct options either. Words are situated in contexts and are tethered to time and place as well as who uses them. For example, “browsing” in Shakespeare’s time meant to eat or nibble on vegetation; however, in the 20 th century people browse books, shops, and the internet. Words are the roots of texts and are archaeological artifacts – anchors as symbols of culture, identity, and time.

When using vocabulary scaffolds, they should be specific to texts to ensure students understand the meaning of the word-in context.  Be sure the scaffolds match the intended lesson outcomes rather than random things like general word walls. While these are helpful, students often benefit by more specialized scaffolds.  A phrase like “hanging chad” would be difficult to understand if students were not aware of the 2000 Presidential election and the problems with ballots in Florida.  For this approach, I recommend the use of word sorts.

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Student or teacher created VMCs can be used in word sorts.  Word sorts ask students to take a word set and group these into categories that have some commonality.  Students use the word information VMCs to identify relationships among words.  Once these commonalities are established, students name (e.g. label) their word groups.  The final step is for students to use their word organizations to explain the connection between words and the concept or learning segment topic (e.g. WWI).  Word sorts are quite useful to introduce student to texts.  Teachers would provide a word set from a specific text and ask students to group and label words, then predict what the text is about based on their word organization.  If additional word-meaning supports are needed, students can be asked to unpack relational word meanings by answering the 5Ws & H.

Based on the word sorts:

  • Who? Who is the story about based on these words? Who are central players/people? {central idea}
  • When? Put words into historical context. {contextualize}
  • Where? Position words in a region, place. {geographical thinking}
  • What? What are these words about? {predict}
  • Why? Why are these words important? {justify, rationalize, explain}
  • How? How are these words connected? How do I know? {metacognition}

Highlighting Text for the Three Tiers of Vocabulary

A caution that I offer is that while vocabulary instruction is important, not all word learning should be treated equally.  Educators need to consider language domains, language functions, and features of academic language to include sentence-level and discourse-level language development via intensive scaffolding.  This can be accomplished by organizing social studies words into three tiers, with greater time and instructional emphasis on the most difficult words.  Using different colors to highlight each tier can help students identify what words they should pay attention to in texts. I offer an example of a highlighted text excerpt below.

academic-content-vocabulary-ell-word-sorts

A pope , politician , and artist went out for a drink. Sound like the beginning to a bad joke ? Perhaps, but in this case, it was no joke .  Of the three, one would be exiled , one would be the center of an assassination plot ,  and one would become great . See if you can determine who they are.

Degrees of Knowledge

Another approach that I have found to be successful is Degrees of Knowledge.  Students can sort their VMCs based on their confidence in knowing the words.  If students recognize the word but don’t know its meaning, then this is a word they will need to spend time learning through additional vocabulary strategies.  If a student is secure in their understanding of a word, then studying this word would not be an efficient use of time.  Teaching students to discern what words they know from those they don’t focuses their study time and helps promote self-regulation. Teachers can also personalize learning by recommending word-learning approaches or working with students to self-identify strategies they can use to study words.

Students who know word meanings and have the skills to use the context of a text to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words are better at reading comprehension than students who may know words or strategies but do not have the ability or confidence to apply these to new and diverse sources. More information about the vocabulary strategies described and other vocabulary interventions can be found in Targeted Vocabulary Strategies for Secondary Social Studies , a publication of Social Studies School Service.

academic-content-vocabulary-ell-word-sorts

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Tina L. Heafner, Ph.D. is a professor of social studies education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the 2018-2019 President-Elect of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Her research identifies the association among student learning outcomes in social studies, high leverage instructional practices, and teacher professional backgrounds and professional learning experiences. Tina has received awards for her sustained services to schools, high school and university teaching, and research including seven awards from the American Education Research Association, the NCSS College and University Faculty Assembly, and the Society for Information Technology and Education.

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Social Studies Vocabulary

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Social studies worksheets are an essential tool for teachers looking to engage their students in the exploration of history, geography, civics, and other related subjects. These worksheets provide a structured format for students to learn and practice key concepts, while also allowing teachers to assess their understanding and progress. Designed for various grade levels, social studies worksheets can be easily integrated into lesson plans, catering to different learning styles and abilities. Teachers can find a wide range of topics covered in these worksheets, from ancient civilizations to modern-day politics, ensuring that students receive a well-rounded education in the subject. By incorporating social studies worksheets into their curriculum, teachers can create an interactive and dynamic learning environment that fosters critical thinking and analytical skills in their students.

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Social Studies Vocabulary Coloring Pages focus on specific vocabulary and provide illustrations to help students visualize the meaning of the word(s). Student read , color , trace , and/or write the vocabulary words on each page. Students can even decorate a construction paper vocabulary notebook, collect their pages, and staple them together to take home.

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  22. Social Studies Worksheets, Maps and Directions

    Social Studies Vocabulary Coloring Pages focus on specific vocabulary and provide illustrations to help students visualize the meaning of the word (s). Student read, color, trace, and/or write the vocabulary words on each page. Students can even decorate a construction paper vocabulary notebook, collect their pages, and staple them together to ...