Global Wording: Earth Vocabulary Word Match

What's the word? While many early childhood educators like to create a word wall of terms used during their lessons to help reinforce print awareness, (words give objects meaning), and recognition of important vocabulary words on a subject, I like to design a more interactive kind of learning.

The following lesson is dedicated to helping the children identify environmentally-based language through a teacher-directed vocabulary game. See below to hear and see the good word!

 Earth Vocabulary Word Match (Subject: Language Arts: Identifying environmentally-based vocabulary words through oral definitions and print awareness)

Items Needed to Make 
DLTK Word Wall Images (Idea for this word wall came from Leanne Guenther of DLTK) (See DLTK Earth Day Word Wall for images and other unique learning experiences)
White Cardstock
Scissors
Glue or glue runner
Colorful cardstock to back vocabulary definitions
Word processing program to type out defintions
Computer paper to print out word wall defintions
Laminator and lamination sheets (optional)

To Make

1. Print out DLTK Word Wall Images onto white cardstock. 
2. Cut out word wall images into strips with scissors. 
3. Laminate for extra sturdiness. (optional) 
4. Type out word wall definitions using a word processing system and print out. 
5. Cut word wall definitions into strips and glue onto colorful cardstock using glue or a glue runner. 
6. Laminate. (optional) 

To Play

1. During circle, explain to the children they are going to learn special words about the earth  called vocabulary words. Explain to the children that vocabulary words are words that help us speak about and learn different things. Then tell the children that after they hear the vocabulary word they are going to tell you the definition of the word. Explain that the definition of a word is what it means. Give examples such as a dog is an animal with fur who barks. 
2. Place three of the DLTK Word Wall Image Strips in the middle of your circle. 
3. Read the names of the word wall images you placed in circle. Make sure to point to each letter of the word to reinforce print awareness. 
4. Read a definition for one of the word wall cards you had placed within your circle. 
5. After you have read the definition, ask your students which word the definition matches. Example: What picture/word is the definition we are talking about? 
6. Continue with each one of your DLTK Word Strip images/vocabulary word strips following the previous steps.