Introduce Vocabulary: A Picture Book of Helen Keller (Adler)

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 A Picture Book of Helen Keller.

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.

compassion

Compassion means feeling bad when others are hurt, and wanting to help them. What’s the word?

People who have compassion try to help the world be a better place. Do you feel compassion when you see an animal in pain?

I’m going to name some things that might happen. If you think the thing shows someone trying to help someone else, say compassion. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Laughing when someone trips
• Helping a little child who is lost
• Releasing a dog that got its collar stuck on a branch
• Making fun of someone who is different
• Feeding hungry people

constant

Constant means when something stays the same and doesn’t change. What’s the word?

The rock was worn away by the steady dripping of water. The rain seems to be constant these days.

I’m going to name some words. If you think the word means that something keeps happening and doesn’t change, say constant. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Varies
• Steady
• Changeable
• Even
• Regular

handicaps

Handicaps means problems people might have that make them less able to do certain things. What’s the word?

People with handicaps want to work as hard as anyone else. Do you feel like you have any handicaps that make work hard for you?

I’m going to name some things people might have. If you think the problem would make it hard for someone to do certain things, say handicap. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Missing legs
• Good hearing
• Blindness
• Lots of energy
• A healthy body

lectured

Lectured means taught or talked to without being able to say anything back. What’s the word?

The teacher lectured about how to solve the math problem. If you were talked to and not given a chance to answer, you were lectured.

I’m going to name some people talking. If you think the person might be talking to teach a lesson, say lectured. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• A mom scolding a child who was playing in the street
• A doctor showing student doctors how to cure sick people
• Friends playing and laughing
• Sisters visiting on the phone
• A funny TV program

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