Vocabulary Sort is an activity designed to get students actively involved with nonfiction or fiction genres prior to reading a selection. It engages the students in group activity that requires them to utilize prior knowledge, dictionary skills, and predictions.

Directions:

1. Identify eight to ten words (more can be utilized once your students are familiar with the procedure) from your students' upcoming reading selection that will provide a clue as to what the selection is about.
2. Write or print the words on a sheet of unlined paper. Divide your students into groups of three or four. Make enough copies of the words for each group.
3. Distribute the word lists and have your students cut them apart. Tell them to glue the words in any order they choose on another sheet of paper, but they must have a reason for their order. Write the reason for the order on the back of the paper.
4. Next they are to write the definition next to each word.
5. At the bottom of the paper they are to write what they think the selection will be about based on the vocabulary words. They are also required to tell why they think this prediction is so.
6. Allow the groups to share their definitions, order of words, and predictions.

Return to the Lesson Plans page.
Return to The Teacher's Desk.

Last updated March 1, 1997