Science Vocabulary Strategies

Here are two science vocabulary strategies – one is old and is new (for me).

Concept Mapping

If you have never used concept mapping with your students, I suggest reading “Using Concept Maps in the Science Classroom” (published by ScienceScope). A comprehensive page of all things concept map related can be found here.

I like to introduce concept mapping to my students by first providing an example of a concept map from a previous unit. Click below to see the complete, larger example.

First, I like to have students use this concept map to create a summary of the concept of “Ecosystems”. Next, students will make their own concept maps on the current unit of study. I like to do this near the end of the unit so they have many connections. Sometimes I provide a word list and other times I have students create the word list. I have also provided students with a skeleton concept map as a starting point for their ideas.

With concept mapping, I like to emphasis that there are many correct ways to create a concept map.  They only way to have an “incorrect” map is to not include meaningful connections or make connections based on misunderstandings of the terms. Connections need to meaningful.

A new twist on concept mapping that I want to try out is a concept connecting activity called  “Wiki Game“.

Vocabulary Sort

Terie Engelbrecht of Crazy Teaching shares how she uses vocabulary sorts in her classroom.

I haven’t used this strategy yet, but I look forward to embedding it into my curriculum.

What are other science vocabulary strategies you use?

P.S If you are looking for ideas for science experiments, check out my book Real Science Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids online at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Indigo (for those of you in Canada), and even Target!