Teaching Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” can be a transformative experience for your 8th-grade students because you can create meaningful vocabulary activities for “The Giver”. It’s a novel that explores complex themes and emotions, making it a fantastic opportunity to enrich their vocabulary. In this blog post, we’ll dive into three vocabulary activities that will not only enhance their language skills but also deepen their understanding of the novel. (Need a vocabulary list for the Giver? Borrow mine here: The Giver Vocabulary List)
Activity 1: Word Walls
Materials Needed:
- Poster paper or a designated bulletin board
- Colored markers
- Sticky notes
- Index cards
How to Execute:
- Create a dedicated space in your classroom for a “Word Wall.” Use poster paper or a bulletin board and label it “The Giver Vocabulary.”
- Introduce a new word from the novel to your students during your reading sessions.
- Have students write the word on a sticky note along with its definition and an example sentence from the book.
- Encourage students to use different colors for each word to make the Word Wall visually engaging.
- Attach the sticky notes to the Word Wall as you progress through the novel.
- Periodically review the words as a class, discussing their meanings and contexts within the story.
Looking for a unique activity to use while teaching “The Giver?” Check out this resource that teachers and students love:
The Giver: Found Poem Activity {CCSS Aligned, Dystopia, Symbolism}
Activity 2: Vocabulary Journals
Materials Needed:
- Notebooks or journals for each student
- Colored pencils or markers
How to Execute:
- Assign a vocabulary word or phrase from “The Giver” to each student as they read the novel.
- In their vocabulary journals, have students write down the word, its definition, and the page number where they found it.
- Ask them to create a visual representation of the word. They can draw an image, make a collage, or even write a short sentence using the word.
- Encourage students to share their journal entries with the class. This promotes discussion and helps solidify their understanding of the vocabulary.
Activity 3: Vocabulary Bingo
Materials Needed:
- Bingo cards (create your own or use online generators)
- Markers or bingo chips
- List of vocabulary words from the novel
How to Execute:
- Create Bingo cards with a 5×5 grid and fill in each square with a vocabulary word from “The Giver.”
- Provide each student with a Bingo card and markers or chips.
- As you read the novel, call out definitions, synonyms, or sentences containing the vocabulary words instead of traditional bingo numbers.
- Students mark the corresponding vocabulary word on their cards.
- The first student to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts “Bingo!” and explains the words they marked.
- Discuss the meanings and context of the words together.
By incorporating these engaging vocabulary activities into your “The Giver” lessons, you’ll not only help your students expand their language skills but also make the novel even more enjoyable. Remember, the key to successful vocabulary instruction is to make it interactive and relevant to the story.
So, go ahead and foster a love for words in your classroom while exploring the intriguing world of “The Giver.” Your students will thank you for it!
Do you already use a strategy for teaching vocabulary for “The Giver”? Please share in the comments below!
