Download List-Group-Label - teaching-what

Vocabulary Development
Strategy: List-Group-Label
Appropriate Grade Level: 1st -12th
Procedures/Steps:
 A one word topic is selected as a stimulus and written at the top of the
paper.
 Students are asked to think of a word or expression related to the
stimulus (all words are accepted); approximately 25 words; record
responses on the paper.
 Reread the list aloud, pointing to each one while reading.
 Have the students construct smaller lists containing at least three
words, from the first list, that have something in common with each
other. You may use words more than once as long as they are in a
separate category.
 Have the group or student defend why they categorized the new words
into their new groups.
 Have students create a ‘misfit’ list with the words not put into other
groups.
Comments and/or tips:
 The stimulus can be taken from a school event, short story being
studied, or current news item.
 Example: stimulus word: Conflict. List: death, lose, win, murder,
war, resolution, hate, love, man, yell, scream, fight, poison, bombs,
dilemma, pain, maturity, guns, knives, personal, hostage, people,
enemy, friend. Group: Hate, love, fight, scream, yell, fight, pain =
(Label) Emotional Reactions. Group: Guns, poison, knives, bombs,
people = (Label) Weapons of conflict.
 Students will learn from each others responses and understand
meaning of the words better.
 As categories are compared, students with learn one lists of misfits is
rarely like another student’s or group’s lists.
Source:
Readence, J. & Searfoss, L. (1980). Teaching strategies for vocabulary
development. English Journal, 69(7), 43-46.
Vocabulary Development