Introduce Vocabulary: I Am Planet Earth (Marzollo)

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 I Am Planet Earth.

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.

globe

Globe means the earth or a small model of the earth. What’s the word?

A globe is round. Did you know some types of light fixtures are called globes?

I’m going to name some items. If you think the item is the same shape as a small model of the earth, say globe. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• A loaf of bread
• A jar
• A grapefruit
• A tennis ball
• A marble

jungle

Jungle means a place where there are lots of trees, vines, and wild animals. What’s the word?

Monkeys and snakes hang from the trees in the jungle. You’d be amazed at the trees and plants that grow in the jungle.

I’m going to name some things. If you think you’d see the thing where a lot of trees and vines grow and there are wild animals, say jungle. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Spiders
• Furniture
• Televisions
• Jaguars
• Green plants

paddy

Paddy means a very wet field where rice is grown. What’s the word?

If the paddy dries up, the rice won’t grow. When you go into the paddy to harvest rice, you should go barefoot, because it’s so wet there.

I’m going to name some items. If you think the item could be found in a very wet field where rice grows, say paddy. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• A cactus
• A camel
• Sand dunes
• Water
• Frogs

planet

Planet means a huge ball of rock in outer space. What’s the word?

Earth is one of eight planets in our solar system. Do you hope to travel to another planet someday?

I’m going to name some places. If you think the place is a huge ball of rock in space, say planet. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Los Angeles
• Montana
• Saturn
• Jupiter
• Venus

valley

Valley means a deep dent on earth. What’s the word?

A valley is a large crack in the earth formed by water or ice rushing through millions of years ago. Would you rather live on the mountaintop or in the valley?

I’m going to name some words. If you think the word means the a deep dent or crack in the earth formed by water, say valley. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Hill
• Plateau
• Butte
• Gorge
• Canyon

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