Using Appropriate Vocabulary - Let's Talk Science

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Teaching STEM Using Appropriate Vocabulary

Group of children (shironosov, iStockphoto)

Group of children (shironosov, iStockphoto)

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The skill of using appropriate vocabulary involves exploring new vocabulary in context and developing the ability to use vocabulary to communicate thinking and learning.

Definition

The skill of using appropriate vocabulary involves exploring new vocabulary in context and developing the ability to use vocabulary to communicate thinking and learning.

Using appropriate vocabulary is important because it…

• is a fundamental literacy skill that allows students to communicate questions, predictions, observations and conclusions
• helps students to expand their language capabilities and pool of specialized vocabulary
• is interconnected with all inquiry skills

Developing the Skill of Using Appropriate Vocabulary

Students	Educators
Are introduced to specialized vocabulary associated with scientific explorations and inquiries	Provide opportunities for students to hear and see vocabulary words associated with scientific processes and concepts (e.g., use scientific words and phrases for concepts such as photosynthesis rather than everyday phrases such as “make their own food” etc.).
Use appropriate vocabulary to describe scientific processes	Encourage students to use appropriate vocabulary when describing scientific processes (e.g., My prediction is…I observe….We conclude that…etc.).
Use appropriate vocabulary to describe objects, places and events	Encourage students to use appropriate vocabulary when describing observations made using their senses (e.g., the first cotyledons appeared on April 30; the peat pellet felt dry so we added more water, etc.).
Use appropriate vocabulary to connect new experiences with what they already know	Provide multiple opportunities for students to connect new words and specialized vocabulary to prior knowledge (e.g., the tomato seeds are much smaller than the bean seeds we grew last year, etc.).

Related Skills

• Communicating
• Making Connections
• Questioning
• Reflecting
• Problem Identification

Related Learning Strategies

Concept Definition Web

Teaching STEM

This strategy helps students understand the meaning of key concepts through the use of a graphic organizer.

Learn More about Concept Definition Web

Key Concept Explorations

Teaching STEM

This strategy helps students explain their understanding of a concept using a graphic organizer.

Learn More about Key Concept Explorations

Print-Video Venn Diagram

Teaching STEM

This strategy helps students collaboratively summarize information presented from both a text and a related video.

Learn More about Print-Video Venn Diagram

Read-View-Listen

Teaching STEM

This strategy helps students obtain and summarize information presented in different information transmission types (text, images, audio).

Learn More about Read-View-Listen

Vocabulary Preview

Teaching STEM

This strategy helps students to become familiar with vocabulary before reading or viewing unfamiliar material.

Learn More about Vocabulary Preview

Visual Dictionary

Teaching STEM

This strategy helps students develop a deeper understanding of new words or concepts.

Learn More about Visual Dictionary

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