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150 Vocabulary Word-Definition Lists and Worksheets for Middle – High School

Here are a total of 150 downloadable learning and instructional documents to help with expanding and building vocabulary for middle and high school students . These cover a variety of topics and include word and definition lists, vocabulary exercises, worksheets, and lessons . They are pdf  files, unless indicated as .doc format. Update: Here are our latest vocabulary posts: 373 Greek and Latin Roots in English Words , Vocabulary For Middle and High School Students and 106 More Vocabulary and Spelling Worksheets & Lists, Grades 1-8 . Also, don’t miss Vocabulary For Middle and High School Students and Vocabulary with Reading Comprehension: 152 Worksheets, Lists and Tools .

  • 20 Vocabulary Words, Middle School
  • 35 Word Chain Crossword Puzzles with answers
  • 3rd Grade Vocabulary Words
  • 3rd Grade Word Study Worksheets
  • 47 Vocabulary Worksheets, Answers at end – Higher Grades
  • 100 Words Every High School Freshman Should Know
  • 100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 1, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 2, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 3, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 4, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 5, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 6, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 7, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 8, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 9, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 10, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 11, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 12, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 13, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 14, High School
  • 100 Words with Definitions List 15, High School
  • 100 Vocabulary Tests with Answers, Intermediate
  • 100 Vocabulary Units & Tests with Answers, Advanced
  • 100 Vocabulary Units & Tests with Answers, Intermediate
  • 500 Vocabulary Words, HS Levels C and D
  • 1250 Words & Phrases in 60 Units with Answers, Elementary
  • A ‘Word’ About Vocabulary
  • Academic Vocabulary List
  • Agriculture Vocabulary Words
  • Algebra Vocabulary List, Definitions for Middle School
  • Approaching New Words
  • Architecture Vocabulary Words
  • Back Words for Back to School A Vocabulary Brain Teaser
  • Beginning Middle and End of Words with Test and Answers
  • Beowulf Vocabulary Words
  • Beyond Matching Vocabulary
  • Cellular Transport Vocabulary Words
  • Check Your English Vocabulary for Medicine
  • Common Vocabulary Words Level 1 – Verbs
  • Connotation Chart with answer key
  • Costumes and Garmets Vocabulary Words
  • Culinary Essentials Vocabulary Words
  • Diet and Exercise Vocabulary Words
  • Diminutive Suffixes Vocabulary Words
  • Drama Vocabulary Words
  • Driver Education Vocabulary Words
  • Earth Science Vocabulary Words
  • Ecology Vocabulary Words
  • Eighth Grade Literary Terms You Should Know.doc
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  • Energy Vocabulary Words
  • Engaging Activities for English Vocabulary Learners
  • Evolution Vocabulary Words
  • Five Senses Example for Generating Similes-Metaphors
  • Five Senses Organizer for Generating Similes-Metaphors
  • Flocabulary SAT Vocabulary Word List
  • Fossil Vocabulary
  • Getting ‘In’ to Prefixes
  • GMAT Vocabulary List
  • GRE Vocab Flashcard eBook
  • Helping your school age child to understand and use words
  • High School Music Band Vocabulary
  • Language Arts Instructional Routine Book K-6th Grade
  • Lesson for Spelling and Vocabulary Contest
  • Lord of the Flies Chapters 1-4 Vocabulary Worksheet
  • Matter Vocabulary Words
  • Metaphors in I Have A Dream speech
  • Middle School Assessment Vocabulary
  • Middle School Level Vocabulary Matching Words 1
  • Middle School Math Terminology
  • Middle School Math Vocabulary Word Wall Cards
  • Middle School SAT Vocabulary Words
  • National Reading Vocabulary Grade 5
  • National Reading Vocabulary Grade 6
  • Plate Tectonics Vocabulary Matching
  • Plate Tectonics Vocabulary Words
  • Prefix Suffix Root List Chart.doc
  • SAT Vocabulary Words Commonly Tested
  • SAT Vocabulary Words Adjectives
  • SAT Vocabulary Words Nouns
  • SAT Vocabulary Words Verbs
  • Science Vocabulary Words
  • Science Unit Vocabulary Words
  • Scientific Method Vocabulary Words
  • Short Story Vocabulary Words
  • Six-Step Vocabulary Instructional Practice.doc
  • Six-Step Vocabulary Instructional Practice
  • Teaching Academic Vocabulary Strategies and Activities
  • Teaching Grammar and Vocabulary
  • Test Your Vocabulary, Answers at end
  • Tier 2 Vocabulary Words for High School
  • Top 1000 Vocabulary Words
  • Vertebrates Vocabulary Words
  • Vocabulary Activities
  • Vocabulary Critical Word List with Definitions, to Grade 12
  • Vocabulary Flash Cards – Basic Set
  • Vocabulary Flash Cards – Easy Set
  • Vocabulary Flash Cards – Hard Set
  • Vocabulary Flash Cards – Medium Set
  • Vocabulary Games for Middle School
  • Vocabulary Learning Strategies
  • Vocabulary Lesson 1 – Cuisine.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 2 – Law.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 3 – Money and Finance.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 4 – School Days.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 5 – Feelings.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 6 – Writing and Editing.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 7 – Construction.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 8 – Sports.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 9 – Behavior.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 10 – Nature and Wildlife.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 11 – Mystery and Suspense.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 12 – Clothing and Fashion.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 13 – Travel .doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 14 – Government.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 15 – Medicine .doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 16 – History.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 17 – Language and Literature.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 18 – Transportation.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 19 – Suffixes -ation-tion-ion-sion.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 20 – Agriculture.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 21 – The Military.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 22 – Headline News.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 23 – Performing Arts.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 24 – The Home.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 25 – Suffixes -ful-ous.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 26 – Occupations.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 27 – Actions.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 28 – Health.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 29 – Art and Music.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 30 – Science.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 31 – Hobbies.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 32 – Business.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 33 – Animal Life.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 34 – Prefixes di-dis-.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 35 – Prefixes co-con-com-.doc
  • Vocabulary Lesson 36 – Verbal Communication.doc
  • Vocabulary Words, 3rd Unit
  • Vocabulary Worksheet Grade 9
  • Vocabulary Workshop Unit 2, 20 Words for 6th Grade
  • Vocabulary Workshop Unit 3, 20 Words for 6th Grade
  • Weather Climate Vocabulary
  • Word Games and Puzzles
  • Word List for Graduate Management Admission Test
  • Words Often Confused Set 1, scan
  • Words Often Confused Set 2, scan
  • Workshop 1 Vocabulary Words
  • Workshop 4 Vocabulary Words
  • WW II Vocabulary Words

150 Vocabulary Word and Definition Lists for Middle-High School

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A Fun Vocabulary Activity for Middle or High School

Teaching vocabulary in high school? It can be difficult but also rewarding. In this post, read about ideas for teaching vocabulary to older students. Included, details for a simple but meaningful fun vocabulary activity to extend learning.

TWO WAYS STUDENTS ACQUIRE NEW WORDS

Word knowledge directly impacts students’ reading comprehension.  Vocabulary experts agree that in order to comprehend what they read, students need to know between 90 and 95 percent of the words they will confront in a text. If a student approaches a text with that level of readiness, he or she will be able to determine the main idea and make educated guesses about the meaning of unfamiliar words, which is how that student acquires new vocabulary indirectly.

For this reason, one of the best ways you can introduce your students to new words is by allowing them opportunities to learn vocabulary indirectly through reading experiences. Students can and should read on a daily basis – at all ages. Reading books at the appropriate reading level is the best vocabulary extension activity you can provide in any content area. Still, teachers need to introduce students to new words directly as well.

KEYS TO DIRECT VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION

What are the keys to effective direct vocabulary instruction? Pinpointing the answer to this question can lead to powerful transformations in the way you approach vocabulary in your classroom. According to research, several key factors play into ensuring that students  learn the words instead of simply  memorizing them.

The list size needs to be small and manageable. Determining an appropriate number for your students might be a process of trial and error. It depends on your students’ age and ability, their existing background knowledge, and the sophistication of the words you are asking them to learn.

In my high school classroom, lists consist of ten to fifteen words, and I allow students two weeks to interact with them on a daily basis before I expect mastery. Less is more. Quality over quantity. When it comes to vocabulary lists, the cliches apply.

2. Presentation

Students need to hear and see the word used in meaningful and specific ways before we can expect them to do so on their own.

When I introduce words, I always do so via direct instruction , never by assigning a list and asking them to look up the definitions on their own. As I introduce the word, I engage students in meaningful discussions, whereby I can help them understand the word’s derivatives and connections to the real world.

Direct instruction is a perfect time to use mentor sentences and allow opportunities for teens to see the words used contextually in literature.

3. Practice

Students need to have ample opportunities to interact with the word  every day . For this reason, I always make time for my students to study their words during class . You’ll know when students have actually learned the words. They’ll use them in their speaking and writing, and they will refer less to their notes during review. I always try to keep a fun vocabulary activity on hand to keep practice fresh.

Using brain-based vocabulary approaches  will help to ensure the practice time you provide is worthwhile. When I complete a vocabulary unit, my students know we will continue coming back to those words throughout the year. This repetition reinforces the likelihood that students will retain the new words.

4. Engagement

Students need to be engaged when learning about new words. Teachers can accomplish this goal through choice and differentiation as well as by pulling in topics of interest. For instance, referring to current events, school controversies, and pop culture are just a few examples of how engaging students through associations will make learning more valuable and memorable. When teachers help students to truly love and appreciate learning new words, magic happens.

Teaching vocabulary in high school? Try this simple yet meaningful extension activity.

DIFFERENTIATING VOCABULARY

I have a passion for differentiating vocabulary instruction by learning styles and abilities . I’m always devising new ways for students to think about their words…different angles that might offer another perspective on how to use a word or remember it. In one of my favorite differentiated vocabulary assignments, I offer my students countless angles for approaching words on any list. Through creative questions, I prompt my students to analyze a word in unique ways. For instance…

Fun Vocabulary Activity 1

Think about the meaning of this word: abase .  I f you were to give this word a rating (think movie rating) for its appropriateness, what rating would you give it, and why?

This question would first require students to review the meaning. Abase means “to behave in a way so as to belittle or degrade someone. Then, students would need to think about that definition deeper. Does a word like abase deserve a G, PG, PG-13, or R rating, and why?

Obviously, there’s no one right answer. Students might respond that it should be rated PG-13 because parental guidance is advisable when children are being mean to others. They might further explain that bullying is common in high school, which is why they rated it a PG-13 instead of just PG. Asking students this one simple question has allowed them to make connections to real-life (bullying and the idea that parental guidance is necessary when one child is abasing another), which strengthens their connection to the word.

Fun Vocabulary Activity 2

Here’s another example:

Create an acrostic poem using the vocabulary word. Make sure the poem reflects an aspect of the word and illustrates how you think about it.

  • A – afraid
  • B – belittle
  • A – antagonize
  • S – shame
  • E – esteem

Students might then provide a written explanation of their acrostic.

The vocabulary word  abase has a negative connotation. When I think of this word, I’m reminded of people who are afraid of those who degrade others. Students who are abased might be scared to go to school for fear of being belittled. Bullies often antagonize people by shaming them. Sometimes they do this in person, but more, often, they do it on social media. When victims are abased, their self-esteem is impacted. 

A SIMPLE VOCABULARY EXTENSION ACTIVITY

After my students interact with a vocabulary word through the task cards and supplemental exercises, it’s easy and effective to ask students to reflect on what they have learned with a fun vocabulary activity that encourages them to extend their learning.

Using the numerous answers they provided during the differentiated vocabulary practice, I ask them to select the associations they made that are the most powerful. I ask them,  Which connections really help you to understand this word? Which connections helped you to have the “Ah ha! I get it!” moment? Using those responses, students create a mini poster. They can do this artistically by hand drawing, by making a collage, or by compiling ideas digitally.

Then, I use these posters to create a word wall. Each student will connect with vocabulary word differently, so the posters can be extremely unique. When they see their words displayed on the wall, it helps them to take ownership of their learning and feel proud they have contributed to their environment – win, win!

RELATED RESOURCE:

Looking for a fun vocabulary activity? They are my jam. Click on the image below to view the details of the differentiated vocabulary practice assignment that allows students to interact with their words from various angles in meaningful ways.

vocabulary building exercises for high school

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7 Effective Vocabulary-Building Activities

vocabulary building exercises for high school

“I love the taste of words. They have a taste and a weight and a colour as well as a sound and a shape.”

—Philip Pullman

A 2008 article from  The   Washington Post showed how “ Students Dig Deep for Words’ Origins .” The article noted that Phil Rosenthal was one of the few high-school instructors in the United States teaching an etymology course. According to Rosenthal, students take the class because they want to brush up on their vocabulary skills before taking the ACT or SAT, and/or because they have a genuine interest in the history of words. (It was also reported that a few students sign up for the course thinking they will be studying insects.)

This article brought to mind my failed attempt at introducing middle-school students to the study of words. I took too much ownership of the unit. If I had approached word study as a process of shared inquiry, my students and I would have had a much more meaningful experience.

Here’s what we know about vocabulary development: There is a strong connection between a student’s vocabulary and his or her reading ability. The same is true for a student’s ability to listen, speak, and write. In fact, we now recognize that each person actually has four vocabularies, one each for reading, listening, speaking, and writing (listed here from largest to smallest). Obviously, there is much overlap, but students will always be able to recognize more words than they can produce.

In addition, giving students long lists of vocabulary words with little or no context is not an effective way to teach vocabulary; students must be actively involved in word study for it to mean anything to them. Simply put, if students don’t use the words they are studying, those words will not become part of the students’ “producing” vocabulary. To develop an effective vocabulary program, consider the following types of student-friendly activities:

Vocabulary-Building Activities

Previewing in context.

  • Select 5-6 words from a chapter or selection students are about to read.
  • Have students turn to the page in which each word is located. Ask the students to read the word in context and try to figure out its meaning.
  • Have students write down what they think each word means.
  • Discuss possible meanings and arrive at a definition in this context.

Self-Collection

  • Have students collect interesting words from different sources, preferably non-school sources.
  • Have students identify each word and the context in which it is used.
  • Next, have them analyze the word using its context, word parts, and dictionary definitions.

Language Families

  • Divide the class into eight groups, and have each group research one of the Indo-European language groups (Albanian, Armenian, Balto Slavic, and so on).
  • Afterward, have each group present their findings to the class. (Let the groups choose how they want to present their findings.)

See minilesson for "Discovering Word Origins (Etymology)."

Prefix, Suffix, Root Study

  • Assign students 3-4 word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots) each week.
  • Give students strategies for learning these word parts.
  • Assign students one word part daily. As you take roll, have students write the word part, the definition, a sample word, and a sentence using the word.
  • Then have them brainstorm for familiar words that will help them remember the meaning of each word part.
  • Challenge them to combine the word parts they have studied into as many words as possible (perhaps in 5 minutes’ time or as a challenge assignment for the next day). Special cards can be used for this purpose.
  • Also challenge them to create “new” words using the word parts they have learned. To qualify, a new word should make sense and might be actually used.
  • Ask students to share their new words; partners should try to guess what each one means.

Special Note: Thoughtful Learning's writing handbooks contain extensive lists of prefixes, suffices, and roots.

Word Sleuthing I

  • On a regular basis, present students with a list of five or six mostly familiar words that contain the same root, prefix, or suffix. (Make the last one or two more challenging than the other words.)

Note: For extra credit, encourage students to provide some of these lists of words.

Word Sleuthing II

  • Provide students, on their own or in pairs, a word to investigate on the Internet. They should try to find as much as they can about the word, starting with its etymology. Instruct them to find information about the word from at least _________ sources (you determine the number) in addition to online dictionaries.
  • After their research, have students present their findings to the class. (Let students choose how they want to present their findings.)

Word Contest

  • For an end-of-the-week activity, have students, on their own or in pairs, be ready with pen and paper. Then give them 3-5 minutes to list as many words as they can containing a particular prefix or root. (Suffixes may not work as well.)
  • The winner is the individual or team listing the most words. (But make sure that each word is real.)

Reading is far and away the primary way for students to build their vocabularies, so encourage them to read all sorts of print and online materials. Along with that, employ a variety of activities (like the ones above) to help students appreciate the richness of the language. The combination should produce positive results.

Want more vocabulary-building activities?  

  • Explore 12 Vocabulary Activities for High School !

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Standards Correlations:

The State Standards provide a way to evaluate your students' performance.

  • LAFS.K12.L.3.4
  • LAFS.K.L.3.4
  • LAFS.K12.L.3.5
  • LAFS.K.L.3.5
  • LAFS.K12.L.3.6

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Five Ways to make Teaching High School Vocabulary Fun and Interesting

Teachers face a variety of challenges on a day-to-day basis, but perhaps their biggest challenge is helping students become successful. A struggling student or struggling group of students is often blamed on the instructor or the instructor’s teaching. One way to ensure that all students experience the same levels of success is finding more innovative, engaging ways to teach in order to facilitate student participation in topics that might not be the most fun to learn. For instance, while high school vocabulary might not seem like the most interesting subject for students, learning new words and their meanings is essential to any student’s education.

But how does a teacher go about engaging students in learning high school vocabulary – a subject that students may not be the most passionate about? There are a variety of different methods teachers can deploy aside from the textbook and test method. Here’s a look at five high school vocabulary teaching methods that are fun, interesting and sure to engage students.

Vocabulary Bingo

After teachers put students through the typical curriculum (i.e., learn the word and what it means), it’s time to engage students in fun, lighthearted activities that will help them retain the information. One such activity is vocabulary bingo. Have the students make bingo cards, placing words they just learned in the various places on the card. Then, read the definitions of the word. If the students have that word, they’ll color in the box on their cards where it exists. This helps students put the definition with the word itself. Teachers can also reward students who complete bingo with prizes or extra credit points.

Word charting

The goal of teaching vocabulary is to expand a student’s word knowledge. One way to do this is by encouraging students to use vocabulary words in their lives. This is where word charting comes in. Teachers can encourage students to do this outside of the classroom while they’re at home. For instance, if students have just been taught the word “cacophony,” which means discordant sounds, encourage them to look for real-life scenarios to use it. Have students chart when they used it to describe something in their lives. For instance, a student may drop a dish on top of another dish in the sink and use “cacophony” to describe the sound it made. Give extra credit or prizes to the students that chart the most vocabulary words over a certain time in their proper contexts.

Short stories

Another way to make teaching vocabulary more fun is to have students create a short story or screenplay using the words they’ve just learned. Teachers can also make this a final project or midterm project. Typically, this will go over much better than a final exam, and students will be more willing to engage and get creative with such a task, especially if a large portion of their grade depends on it.

Write songs

To piggyback off the previous point, another way for students to better retain words is to have them write songs using them. This is also a project that will get the creative juices flowing with students. Break them up into groups and have them write lyrics with their new words in context of their definitions. Be sure to also offer extra credit for students who go above and beyond just writing lyrics, such as for groups that actually put music with their songs or record them to play them back to the rest of the class. Writing poetry with newly learned words is another option that could fall within this category.

Games have proved to be a better way to engage students and help them retain information in the classroom. And one game that could apply to new vocabulary words is Pictionary. Have students divide into groups and then diagram word definitions as best as they can, as their peers attempt to guess them. Another game might consist of students acting out words in short skits for classmates to guess. Such games are fun and are sure to produce a lot of laughs as students learn new words.

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Tagged as: Engaging Activities ,  High School (Grades: 9-12) ,  Language Arts

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Vocabulary for High School Students

Lessons for vocabulary for hIgh school students can meet upper-level language standards. Vocabulary activities for high school can include writing and word walls. Teaching vocabulary to high school students can be meaningful English lessons.

Creating meaningful vocabulary for high school students. Hmmmm—and teaching vocabulary, in engaging ways?? Tall orders. 

Word walls, mentor sentences , and repetition: It’s tough, and I believe it’s because older learners are jaded against such lessons. I don’t have all of the answers, but I can be honest about methods I’ve found meaningful. While researching this post, I discovered other methods worth examining. I’ll include links to those ideas later. Hopefully this post serves as a resource as you examine and implement vocabulary methods, discovering the most effective for your classes.

Overall, my best approach to meet advanced language standards (vocabulary for high school students is included in those standards!) is to provide everyone with choice about their tools. When I teach vocabulary , I provide bookmarks for choosing words and graphic organizers for analyzing the words.

However, before we dive into the various ways of approaching these lessons, let’s cover meaningful parts of covering vocabulary.

graphic organizers to help students learn new terms

English Dictionaries for Modern Learners

So, we should acknowledge this: our classes have dictionaries on every device. With technology being such a prominent part of their lives, having dictionaries readily available on their devices ensures easy access to definitions, examples, and pronunciation of words. As teachers, we probably need to model using the dictionary.

These digital dictionaries offer more than just definitions; they provide context and usage examples to help classes understand how words are used in real-life situations. Additionally, many of these dictionaries have features like word games and quizzes, making the learning process interactive and engaging.

By incorporating these modern English dictionaries into our classes, we empower our everyone to take ownership of learning new terms.

note cards can help high school students grow their vocabularies

What about Flashcards and Worksheets for Vocab Practice?

As a seasoned English teacher, I do not discard flashcards and worksheets to practice new terms. However, other tools exist in addition . One alternative method worth examining is the use of online flashcard platforms. These platforms allow learners to create and study virtual flashcards, making vocabulary practice more interactive and convenient. Additionally, many of these platforms offer features like audio pronunciation, a benefit for multiple grade levels.

Another tool that can be effective for vocabulary practice is the use of word association games and analogies. These games provide a fun and engaging way for students to expand their vocabulary by connecting words with related concepts or images. Vocabulary for high school students with images is not too babyish. This method not only helps improve their memory retention but also encourages creative thinking and deeper understanding of word meanings, prefixes, suffixes, and on.

Lessons for vocabulary for hIgh school students can meet upper-level language standards. Vocabulary activities for high school can include writing and word walls. Teaching vocabulary to high school students can be meaningful English lessons.

1. Learner directed: Ask students to choose their words.

With this approach of acquiring words, students will choose terms to study from a reading assignment, most often a novel.

This method takes extra work because you won’t have a master for grading. I’ve also found that it’s labor intensive. Guiding students and encouraging them to uncover difficult words requires circling amongst everyone. Grading can be a completion check or quick overview of words. Another option is to compile the class’ commonly listed words and study those. This approach means that the work won’t be done ahead of time, which creates extra prep work for you.

Still, this is the vocabulary instruction I commonly use with my vocabulary for high school students. It gives them ownership, and I sense less grumbling from classes. At times, I provide structure and require certain words be included. They overall choose the words, and I merely serve as their assistant in learning.

When classes choose their vocabulary words, this can flow into writing assignments. For instance, you can have them write a sentence using a vocabulary word. Another option is to find a theme among the words and have them write a story based on the words’ message: gloom, excitement, destruction, promise.

Teaching words can come from the teacher

2. Pre-made lists: Choose the words and have students attempt the definition from a text.

When reading fiction or nonfiction, choose vocabulary words ahead of time. Give readers the list and as they read, ask them to derive the meaning from the context. After finishing, everyone can correct their words with each other, a dictionary, or as a class.

First, students will practice using context clues. Furthermore as you review, you can explain the parts of speech, showing how grammar is part of what they read. To take it a step more, examine why the author used specific language. For instance in The Great Gatsby , we analyze Fitzgerald’s writing style through a linguistic lens.

Finally, do not feel bad about assigning specific words. Vocabulary learning takes time, and young readers might not be savvy enough for word consciousness.

Post a word of the day

3. Easy vocabulary for the high school student: Teach a word of the day.

Floating around Pinterest are dozens of “words every high school graduate should know” and “ACT prep” or “SAT” lists. Grab a list of unknown words, modify it if necessary, and add definitions. Teach one concept per day. This method can be in a no-stress way, by simply posting the word and reading it to start class. Students will remember those words, especially if you use them throughout the year in your lessons.

Many schools are creating robust vocabulary lists for the entire school to focus on. Your school may soon have such a list, and all teachers will incorporate that list in some manner. Another option is to borrow a list from a neighboring school.

To review, grab sticky notes and ask students to create a picture, sentence, or note that helps them remember the word and its definition. (Start with basic words if necessary.) Combine the sticky notes and complete a gallery walk with your class.

Teach vocabulary for the high school student

4. Vocabulary for high school students: Teach from a series.

Teaching vocabulary from a series is a bit like #3, but with more pre-made activities. If you are new to teaching vocabulary or need quick instruction, the web is full series with accompanying activities. Experiment with what your students enjoy and with what helps them learn the best. Create your own activities to supplement, or branch out with the above ideas.

Teaching from a series shouldn’t be the end-all, but can be a starting point. I use mentor sentences from a variety of books so that I can connect vocabulary to literature smoothly.

Word walls can help high school students

5. Fun and visual reminders: Word walls.

Yes, secondary students enjoy word walls. Ask students to assemble adverbs and adjectives from their vocabulary lists. Hang the words and discuss their meanings. As students created this visual, they will interact with it, especially if it becomes part of a bulletin board.

The goal is for students to review their vocabulary in multiple ways, study it multiple times, and to take ownership of the words. Vocabulary activities high school needn’t always be formal; a quick review with the word wall created by students will reinforce vocabulary lessons.

Like I previously mentioned, when I began writing this blog post, I researched best practices for vocabulary instruction. During my teaching training, I was taught that students needed to identify words for the instruction to be meaningful. I see validity with that point and most often use some variation of that when teaching high school students vocabulary. However, I have experienced students avoiding terms that intimidate them. The words that could create growth? Students ignore them.

One could argue that classes are still studying, but are they truly expanding their vocabularies? Teacher involvement is a requirement – involvement that uses the vocabulary orally and in writing. In “Research-based Practices in Vocabulary Instruction,” the authors say this:

Research recommends that students learn fewer words but that they know how words and the English language work so that they can infer the meanings of new words. Effective vocabulary instruction is characterized by deliberate selection of words to be taught and frequent opportunities for students to interact with the words in meaningful contexts. Interacting with words in multiple ways and in varied contexts results in durable word learning.

From reading “know how words and the English language work,” I take that to mean conventions, grammar, studying language. I’ve written about teaching grammar alongside vocabulary , and how students benefit from learning words associated with an English class, just as students use algebraic terms in an algebra class.

The study quoted above is not long, and contains links to other resources. If you teach with ‘tiered’ words, Edutopia has tips for that vocabulary instruction.

Teaching Vocabulary, Overall.

Teaching vocabulary for high school students is a must, and the variations will depend upon your classes’ needs and your experience. When I reflect upon my first years teaching, my vocabulary instruction was weak. Over time, I learned new methods and grew in my confidence in allowing everyone to participate more. Passive learning of new terms will not grow students’ vocabularies. Research different approaches, and experiment.

Collaborate with other teachers and learn vocabulary alongside your students. Finally, be open to various approaches when teaching vocabulary to high school students.

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Building Vocabulary

TeacherVision Staff

Vocabulary development is critical to success in reading

Need a reinforcement activity for vocabulary building? Try a game of Vocabulary Bingo !

What Is It?

One of the most important responsibilities of every teacher is to help students develop a strong working vocabulary . Vocabulary falls into four categories:

Listening : the words we understand when we hear them

Speaking : the words we use when talking

Reading : the words we understand when we read

Writing : the words we use when writing

To develop students' vocabulary, teachers must encourage a curiosity about the meaning and use of unfamiliar words and promote the use of strategies that will help students find the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Why Is It Important?

The size of a person's working vocabulary is both a measure of educational attainment and a key to academic and career success. Vocabulary development, for example, is crucial to success in reading . Research shows that the proportion of "difficult" words in a text is the single most important predictor of the difficulty of the text, while the size of a person's vocabulary is the best predictor of how well that person can understand the text (Anderson and Freebody 1981).

Unfortunately, research also shows marked differences in vocabulary development in students from high- and low-income families, with a widening gap during the first three years in the lives of children – much of which can be attributed to the level of verbal interactions that children have with their parents. For example, researchers have found a difference of almost 300 spoken words per hour between parents who hold professional positions and parents on welfare. As a result, by the age of three, children in "professional" families actually had a larger vocabulary than the parents with low-incomes (Hart and Risley 1995).

Research also shows that children who enter school with a vocabulary deficit tend to continue to fall behind through the course of their schooling. If education is truly to be the "great leveler" and provide all children access to the same opportunities, teachers must somehow find ways to reverse this trend and help all children develop a rich working vocabulary.

How Can You Make It Happen?

Strategies for fostering vocabulary development fall into two broad categories: teaching strategies for vocabulary directly and learning new words indirectly . Generally, school-age children learn about 3,000 new words a year, but only about 10 percent of these words come from direct vocabulary instruction. The rest come from their everyday experiences with oral communication, listening to text read aloud , and reading a wide variety of texts independently.

Researchers conclude that teachers can have the biggest impact on vocabulary by increasing the amount of incidental word learning (Nagy and Herman 1987).

Indirect Vocabulary Instruction

Teachers can help students increase vocabulary by including powerful, difficult words in their oral language while they teach, and encouraging students to use those words in their speaking and writing.

Read, Read, Read

The single most effective way of helping students build vocabulary is by increasing the amount that they read . Researchers have found that students who read just 10 minutes a day outside of school demonstrate significantly higher rates of vocabulary growth than students who do almost no reading outside of school (Nagy and Anderson 1984). Students are likely to develop vocabulary more rapidly when the books they read are not only easy enough to read fluently but also contain unfamiliar words. Most importantly, students need to read a lot to have the frequent encounters with words in different contexts that lead to true word knowledge; the sheer volume of reading matters. Find ways to increase the amount of reading that students are doing, and they inevitably will build vocabulary. It's that simple.

Thoughtful Classroom Discourse

Talk is also important. Children whose parents talk to them often on a range of topics come to school with a much larger vocabulary than children from homes where talk is limited. These children do not have a larger vocabulary because they are smarter – rather, they are smarter because they have a larger vocabulary. Assist children with vocabulary deficits by providing them with the same sort of highly interactive, language-rich environment that advantaged children have at home. Engage students in conversations on a wide range of topics, calling attention to the shades of meaning of interesting words in their daily interactions with text (both written and oral), and promote a spirit of curiosity about words and the different meanings that words can have in different contexts. Don't be afraid to use "big words," as this is how students will learn.

Direct Vocabulary Instruction: Learning New Words

Students can learn new words by finding meanings of words in meaningful contexts; using dictionaries , and using structural analysis to find the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Vocabulary in Context

Researchers have found that teaching dictionary definitions of words out of context does not enhance the comprehension of a text containing those vocabulary words (Stahl & Fairbanks 1986). Students need to encounter words repeatedly and in a range of contexts before the words become part of their working vocabulary. For example, McKeown, Beck, Omanson, and Pople (1985) found that students did not really know and understand words they had only encountered 4 times, but they did know and understand words they encountered 12 times.

Using a Dictionary

Students should be taught how to use dictionaries to look up the meanings of unknown words. Small pocket dictionaries are inexpensive and can provide a wealth of information, provided that students know how to use them. Dictionary skills, such as using guide words , understanding parts of speech , and deciphering phonetic spelling , should be explicitly taught and practiced. Dictionaries are also useful in introducing multiple meanings of words . Students can practice working out which of several defined meanings of a word is relevant in a given passage.

Words that are used often or are easily confused can be displayed in a classroom on a word wall. Be selective about which words go on the wall, making sure the words displayed are really those your students need to know. Add words gradually, a few each week, and provide plenty of opportunity for students to say and write them. Students can choose a word and give clues about the word for other students to guess. For example, "The word begins with the same sound as head and rhymes with mouse ."

Vocabulary Journals

Encourage students to build their vocabulary every day and keep a vocabulary journal . Students can write 10 words in their journals each week that they have either heard in class or read in a textbook or novel. Have them use context clues or structural analysis to try to figure out the meanings, and then allow them to use a dictionary to check the definitions. Students can use the 10 new words they've learned to write pairs of analogies that express one of the relationships you have reviewed with them. Examples of analogies can be found in the "How can you stretch students' thinking?" section.

Using Context Clues

Most students will naturally use context clues to try to find the meanings of words. For example, given a sentence such as:

Unlike Virginia, who never talked much at all, Stella was a garrulous sort, with more to say than most of us wanted to hear.

A reader who is unfamiliar with the word garrulous may figure out a rough approximation of its meaning based on the contrast of Stella, the garrulous one, and Virginia, "who never talked much at all."

One way to teach using context is to give students text with some unfamiliar words. Have them circle the words they don't know, guess their meanings, and tell how they arrived at their guess. Then have them take turns explaining their guesses. Make a list on the board of the strategies they used. Common context clues include a restatement (signaled by that, is, or, in, etc.), a comparison (signaled by like, similar to, as, or the use of a synonym), or a contrast (signaled by but, not, although, or the use of an antonym).

In This Article:

Featured high school resources.

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vocabulary building exercises for high school

21 Ideas for Teaching Vocabulary

I’m sharing 21 ideas for teaching vocabulary. You may not be able to use all of them, but I hope you can find some ideas that will work well for you!

I’ve shared books about vocabulary instruction , as well as the theory and techniques . This post is a lot more practical. We’re all about ideas today!

I’m sharing the bare bones of the ideas here.

I’m adding lengthier explanations for some of them with more tips and fleshed-out instructions on my website devoted just to vocabulary instruction, VocabularyLuau .

You’ll see that option at the end of the idea if it’s available. 

IDEA #1: Semantic Maps

In this activity, the teacher chooses a word and displays it for the class on a whiteboard, etc.

Students read the word and then think of words that come to mind when they see that word (this is awesome because it activates prior learning).

A list is created of all of the words that come to mind, and then those words are categorized.

This can be done as a whole class or in small groups.

Students then create a “map” using a graphic organizer and discuss it. Additional or substitute categories can be suggested.

As students read through the text, they can add related words to the map.

Want more details on this strategy? Get the step-by-step on VocabularyLuau .

IDEA #2: Eye Spy

Give students a list of words to search for in a text or have them find unfamiliar words.

You can award points to the words based on different criteria (longest new word, word with most consonants, etc.).

Invest in a set of inexpensive dollar store magnifying glasses to make this more game-like.

This is a great pre-reading activity.

Want more details on this strategy? Get the step-by-step on  VocabularyLuau.

IDEA #3: Making Choices

Students show their understanding of vocabulary by saying the word when it applies, or remaining silent when it doesn’t.

For example: “Say radiant if any of these things would make someone look radiant.” -Winning a million dollars. -Earning a gold medal. -Walking to the post office. -Cleaning your room. -Having a picture you painted hung in the school library. 

(This idea is from the book Bringing Words to Life , recommended in the books section.)

This is one of the key strategies teachers need in introducing new vocabulary. Because of that, I’ve written extensively and given a dozen examples from different texts for Kinder through 12th grade on VocabularyLuau .

IDEA #4: Sorting Hat

Use a Harry Potter theme to have students sort words into categories. They can pull them out of a hat.

If you give them the categories, it’s called a “closed sort.” If they come up with their own categories, it’s called “open sort.”

This one is so, so fun. I explain lots more about how to do it on VocabularyLuau .

IDEA #5: Word Pairs

Give students words in pairs and have them evaluate if the words are the same, opposite, go together, or are unrelated.

This strategy is terrific for building critical thinking skills along with the vocabulary.

Get even more details and variations at VocabularyLuau .

(adapted from Word Power: What Every Educator Needs to Know about Teaching Vocabulary )

IDEA #6: Linear Array

In this strategy, students use a graphic organizer that is a rectangle, three ovals, and then another rectangle, all in a line.

The word in question goes in the rectangle on the far left.

The rectangle on the far right is filled in with a word that is the opposite.

The center three ovals are filled in with words that go from the far left to the far right, gradually become less similar until they reach the opposite.

For example, microscopic, tiny, small, bigger, large.

You can see examples of the graphic organizer, more details, and lots of variations on VocabularyLuau .

(adapted from Words, Words, Words: Teaching Vocabulary in Grades 4 – 12 )

IDEA #7: Games

Many “real” games work well for vocab play and practice. Games such as Balderdash , Taboo , Scrabble , Blurt , Bananagrams ,  word bingo, and others are fun.

There are online games as well, such as Scholastic’s Synonym Toast .

[Note: I am a notoriously horrible Scrabble player, and every time I play I think, “English teachers should be better at this.” It’s not my favorite.]

IDEA #8: Scavenger Hunt

Have a word scavenger hunt in books, magazines, articles on the net, or in the school or home.

Don’t just go for numbers; go for unusual words, academic vocabulary, weird spellings, homophones, etc.

IDEA #9: Word Wheel

Copy and paste this image onto a sheet of cardstock and make a vocab spinner game. EisforExplore shares the whole idea here.

Explore Spinner

IDEA #10: Vocabulary Photo Album

Using a simple, inexpensive photo album, students create a visual glossary of key words.

I’ve got pictures of examples, details, and more ideas at VocabularyLuau , if you’d like to read more.

IDEA #11: Tally

Use tally marks to track words you’re trying to practice.

Mark whenever the teacher says the word in context, and mark twice when a student does.

Alternatively, you can have the tally marks be even, but play the teacher versus the class.

There’s so much more to this strategy. Learn more about how tally marks can help you teach vocabulary at VocabularyLuau .

IDEA #12: Vocabulary Relay

Print out words on one set of cards (copy this set a few times) and definitions, context, or sentences in which they could be used (fill-in-the-blank) on another set (just one set).

Jumble up the words in a pile in the middle of the floor, and jumble up the definitions, context, and sentences to keep with you. Break students into teams of five-ish.

Call out the definition/context/sentence and give students some think time (8 – 10 seconds) to talk about what word it might be.

After the discussion time, call out “Word!” One member from each team runs to the center and tries to find the word in the pile.

I like having multiple sets of the words so more than one team can get it.

Check to make sure they’re correct, and then discuss it briefly before the next round.

Note: I got this idea from another teacher’s site, but I cannot for the life of me remember where. I have searched Google for it, and can’t find it. A small prize to the person who can figure out the originator of the idea!

I’ve written quite a bit about it here, but I’ve written more (and have lots of pictures of it in play) at VocabularyLuau .

IDEA #13: Vocabulary Category Relay 

This is a different relay activity than the one above, even though the names are so similar.

In this version, teams of students race to fill in words responsive to a category that start with the letters of the alphabet in order.

This can be done individually, in groups, or even as a whole class. It’s also a good one for both digital and in-person instruction.

When I wrote about it on VocabularyLuau , I shared these score sheets for digital use, as well as printable versions.

vocabulary building exercises for high school

IDEA #13: Comic Strip Word Activity 

I got the idea for using comic strips from This Reading Mama .

In some ways, it’s really a modified Frayer model. 

I loved it so much that I started making them like crazy. It turns out that they let me get a clear glimpse into how well the students had mastered the word. 

comic strip of frog with speech bubbles

I have an entire article about this, filled with loads of ideas and resources at VocabularyLuau .

You can check out that article here (or click the image below).

sample comic strip vocabulary scene with link to comic strip vocabulary on VocabularyLuau.com

IDEA #14: Paper Plate Vocab

I love this inexpensive matching game  from Finding Joy in Fifth Grade , and I think students could create it themselves.

Paper Plate Vocabulary

IDEA #15: Heads Up Vocabulary Game

Students hold a word on a card in front of their foreheads. The students don’t know what words they have.

Students ask each other a series of questions to determine the meaning of their word. Or, students can give students clues to the person with the word to help that person guess the word.

This is a review activity, and it’s not for initial instruction.

It’s such a favorite that I wrote a very comprehensive article about it on VocabularyLuau . There’s even a hack for printing on Post-it notes!

IDEA #16: Word Sneak

Word Sneak is a game invented by Jimmy Fallon that he plays with guests on the Tonight Show.

In the game, Jimmy and the guest each get a stack of cards with words on them that they have to work into the conversation naturally (without sounding forced or stilted).

It’s hysterical to watch and fun to play.

It’s also a great way to learn different ways to approach a word.

It’s so much fun that when I wrote the article about in on VocabularyLuau , I also included a Tonight Show backdrop you can use in class to give it an even more “real” feel.

IDEA #17: Frayer Model

The Frayer Model is an oldie-but-goodie vocab activity model in which student work in multiple ways in a specifically laid out graphic organizer to engage with words.

frayer model graphic organizer with various shapes

This is such a must-know that I wrote a (very lengthy and detailed) plan for how to use it at VocabularyLuau .

It includes downloads and printables and digital versions, as well as exactly how (and why) to use this strategy.

If you are not familiar with it, please do yourself a solid and read more .

IDEA #18: Tweet

Have students create a “tweet” that a word would send out or with the word in the tweet in context.

You can use a tool like PrankmeNot or Siminator  to make it look real.

This strategy is so fun and so useful!

I’ve written about five different ways to do this (with examples) on VocabularyLuau , and I even have this free template for you there:

vocabulary building exercises for high school

IDEA #19: Brain Power Words

This is a strong academic vocabulary activity that takes a little bit of time, but would really help get the words past the superficial level of understanding.

  • Ask small groups of students to preview sections of a text and identify difficult words.
  • For long chapters, assign different sections to different groups.
  • Students place a Post-it next to the words in the text they identify as potentially difficult.
  • Clues of substitution: A known word would make sense in the context and is probably a good definition.
  • Clues of definition: The word is defined in the text (many textbooks do this).
  • Clues of opposition: Words “not, unlike” etc. are excellent clues to what a word is not and thus help define the words.
  • After the Brain Power Words list is identified and definitions sought, the students check their work with the teacher.

This strategy is from Becky McTague and Margaret Richek (it’s in the book Reading Success for Struggling Adolescent Learners  by Susan Lenski and Jill Lewis).

IDEA #20: The Concept Cube

A concept cube is a  pattern that is printed on paper or cardstock, cut out, folded, and taped into a three-dimensional cube.

Students write, type, or draw on the pattern prior to assembling the cube, and then  they “play” with the cube to explore concepts.

Depending upon the way you choose to use it, they can be similar to a three-dimensional  Frayer model .

printed out concept cubes on colored paper

You can print out a blank cube and have students print the responses below, or complete it online and then print it out.

Before folding, students write clearly in each square following the directions below.

Each student is given one challenging vocabulary word from a recent reading and asked to:

  • Write the assigned vocabulary word in one square.
  • Write a synonym (word or phrase) in another square.
  • Write an antonym (word or phrase) in another square.
  • Write a category or categories it could belong to.
  • Write the essential characteristics of the concept of this word.
  • Give one example.

Cut, fold, and tape the cube.

Roll the cube and read what comes up on the “top”; the student must tell the relationship of that word or phrase to the original word.

After students know their own cube without any errors, they exchange with a peer.

You can get more ideas and details, as well as a free printable, at VocabularyLuau .

IDEA #21: Phone a Friend

Search TeacherspayTeachers or Teachers Notebook for vocabulary activities you can use or adapt.

The beauty of this is that you can search by grade level and subject, so you can focus on what you’re studying.

A caveat to this is that if you create something grade level or content specific, you can share it with other teachers, too.

The Importance of a Variety of Activities

You want to have a variety of activities so that vocabulary instruction doesn’t become routine or boring.

Keeping it fresh with lots of different ways of learning will help students (and the teacher) avoid getting burned out or tired of working with vocabulary.

There’s been so much interest in this that I created an entire website just for vocab ideas called VocabularyLuau .

These 21 activities for teaching vocabulary are just a start. I’d love to know your ideas!

The Vocabulary Series

This post is Part 3 of a four-part series on teaching vocabulary. If you would like to check out the rest of the series, visit the posts below

  • Teaching Vocabulary: The books
  • Theories & Techniques that work (and don’t)
  • 21 Activities for Teaching Vocabulary (this one)
  • Ideas for English Language Learners

There’s even a great book for teaching vocabulary!

These ideas work for all vocabulary words.

If your students need to learn vocabulary words and terms that are specific to your content (words like acute angle or latitude or simile or biome ), have I got a book for you!

You know how I know it’s great? I wrote it! I wrote it for teachers just like you from the method I created in my own class with my own students and tested over and over.

cover of concept capsules book by Lisa Van Gemert

You can learn more about it by clicking on the picture of it, or you can read more and see loads of examples here .

If you already know you want it, you can grab a paperback version on Amazon .

Or, if you want a digital copy, you can use the coupon code GIFTEDGURU for 20% off you can…

Do You Like Great Ideas?

If so, I share them in my email o’ goodness that goes out about once a month to thousands of people just like you.

You can sign up here (it’s free).

Note: This content uses referral links. Read my disclosure policy (it’s fascinating) for more info.

  • Read more about: Excellent Teaching

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High School Vocabulary Lesson Plans That Really Work

More than just vocabulary lesson plans, the following ideas combine ideas on how to teach vocabulary and lesson plans for effective verbal communication. Before getting into the fun stuff, let’s look at why learning vocabulary is so important.

  • All standardized tests are reading tests with specialized vocabulary. In fact, the major reason we may not understand our automobile manual, our medical prescriptions, and our investment prospectus is we are not familiar with the jargon.
  • Having a broad vocabulary increases confidence . Students who are able to communicate effectively are more likely to forge strong ties with their peers and adults alike.
  • Vocabulary skills make reading, writing, and speaking so much better, because comprehension of text and conversation increases.

Great Vocabulary Ideas

The foundation for improving vocabulary involves daily practice using activities such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Click on these lesson ideas to find ways of boosting vocabulary learning:

OWN THE WORD

The old school approach to vocabulary consisted of copying down new words, defining them, throwing them in your backpack, taking them out of your backpack 10 minutes before the quiz, studying the words, getting a ‘D’ on the quiz, forgetting the words, getting the quiz back, throwing the quiz in the garbage can never to be seen again. There’s a better way. It’s called actually having kids learn the word by employing verbal, visual, and auditory skills to take ownership of the word.

VOCABULARY POSTERS

You’ve tried the old school approach. Now it’s time for a more focused approach. Forcing children to think outside the box provides opportunities for creativity and review. Be careful though; students might want to do extra practice.

KINESTHETIC VOCABULARY

Kinesthetic learners need entertainment. If you don’t provide it, then they will find other means. These great activities help students learn while having fun and moving around.

This post is part of the series: Learning Styles

These lesson plans are geared toward multiple learning styles.

  • Fun Language Arts Review Lesson Plan
  • Literary Terms Lesson Plan: Teaching to Different Learning Styles
  • Teaching Tips - Vocabulary Lesson Plans
  • Creative Lesson Plan: Vocabulary Poster
  • A Vocabulary Lesson Plan for Normal People
  • Grades 6-12
  • School Leaders

Black History Month for Kids: Google Slides, Resources, and More!

30 Meaningful Vocabulary Activities for Every Grade

These activities are the definition of fun!

vocabulary building exercises for high school

Learning new words is like adding to your writing toolbox. Your writing becomes so much more interesting and engaging when you have more tools available. Check out these fun and engaging vocabulary activities for kids in grades K-12, and give your students the equipment they need to build their wordsmith skills.

1. Write vocabulary short stories

a clipboard with a vocabulary short story written on it

Using vocabulary words in writing shows mastery. Challenge your students to use all of their vocabulary words in an original short story. Allow students to pair up and share their stories with a partner.

Learn more: Lucky Little Learners 

2. Put your students in the “hot seat”

Divide your class into two teams. Choose one student from one team to go to the front of the room and sit in a chair facing the class with his/her back to the board. This person is “on the spot.” Place a word on the board so everyone can see it except the person in the chair. One at a time, team members give the person a clue about the mystery word. If the word is guessed before two minutes are up, the team gets a point and play turns to the other team.

Learn more: On the Spot/Upper Elementary Snapshots

3. Match up words and definitions

a vocabulary activity set featuring vocabulary words and definitions

Download these vocabulary words and matching definitions. Distribute one card to each student (either a word or a definition). Allow students to circulate in the room and find their “match.” Switch cards and repeat.

Learn more: Teach Starter

4. Sketch up some word maps

a word map made up around the word cowboys

Creating word maps from vocabulary words encourages students to find the relationships between the vocabulary word and other words. Have them include words, pictures, examples, real-world connections, definitions, descriptive words, etc.

Learn more: Southern Fried Teachin’

5. Create Post-it stations

a small clipboard with a purple post-it note attached on top of a floral backdrop

Post vocabulary words around the room, then have students circulate and write an original sentence using that word on a sticky note. Follow along and make sure students use the words correctly.

Learn more: Now Spark Creativity

6. Play a game of Pop!

a hand pulling a car with an illustration of popcorn and the word pop! out of a red and white striped bag

Write vocabulary words on cards or craft sticks and place in a paper bag. Write the word Pop! on three to five cards or sticks and add them to the bag as well. To play, students will take turns drawing cards or sticks out of the bag, reading the word and giving the definition. If they correctly define the word, they keep the card or stick. If not, it goes back in the bag. If they pull the word Pop! they must return all their cards or sticks to the bag and start over. The player with the most cards or sticks wins.

Learn more: Pop/Not So Wimpy Teacher

7. Take a gallery walk

Hang six to eight large sheets of chart paper in various places around the room. On each sheet, write one vocabulary word. Have students work in small groups, rotating between stations. At each station, ask students to come up with a different, original way to use each word. Continue the activity until all students have visited every station.

Learn more: Teachwriting.org

8. Create vocabulary strips

an index card vocabulary activity

Have students draw a diagonal line across an index card. On the top half, have them write the vocabulary word and definition. On the bottom half, have them draw a picture of the word and use it in a sentence. Cards can be joined together in a strip for easy review.

Learn more: Teaching Fourth

9. Play a round of Pictionary

a Pictionary vocabulary worksheet

This fun activity requires students to draw a picture for each word to create their own visual dictionary. When students create their own visual representations, they develop an association with the word that they will be able to tap into when needed.

Learn more: Pictionary/Lit in Focus

10. Make a word map

Word map for the word Respect (Vocabulary Activities)

Word maps help deepen understanding of a vocab word by relating it to other words and concepts students already know.

Learn more: Word Map/Upper Elementary Snapshots

11. Use the Frayer model

Frayer Model for the word Noun

Frayer models are a popular way to learn new words and concepts. Kids define the word in their own terms, then list facts and characteristics, examples, and non-examples.

12. Draw vocabulary Sketchnotes

Vocabulary sketchnotes for words like prohibit and reproach (Vocabulary Activities)

Kids and teachers love Sketchnotes ! Rather than writing out definitions, have students draw a sketch that sums up each word instead. It’s a lot more fun and gives kids an image for visual association and to help remember the meanings.

13. Bump words along

Printable vocabulary worksheet for Bumper Words game (Vocabulary Activities)

Group vocab words together with a few other words with similar meanings and one that’s an antonym. Students identify the antonym and “bump” it to the next box, filling in the next group of words. They continue until the worksheet is full.

Learn more: Reading and Writing Haven

14. Post a graffiti wall

Graffiti wall for the vocabulary word

Think of a vocabulary graffiti wall like a collaborative word wall. In the classroom, post the words on the wall and have kids add sticky notes to illustrate the term (they can use words or pictures). Online, try a tool like Padlet or Google Slides.

Learn more: Digging Deeper

15. Match words to describe character

Character Match printable worksheet showing a drawing of a person with matching vocabulary words

This is a terrific way to practice vocab words pulled from books you’re reading. Ask students to use various words to describe the different characters in the book and their feelings, thoughts, and actions.

Learn more: The Sassy Apple

16. Fill in words from A to Z

Printable A to Z vocabulary word game worksheet

This vocabulary game is fun and challenging, and you can play it at any age. Choose a word, then challenge kids to come up with related words for as many letters as possible. These could be synonyms, antonyms, examples, and more. Trickier letters are worth more points!

Learn more: A to Z/Lit in Focus

17. Try Flip for vocabulary activities

Flipgrid assignment page titled "Know Your Vocabulary'

Forever a Teacher at Heart/Twitter

Are you on the Flip (formerly Flipgrid) bandwagon yet? It’s perfect for vocabulary activities! Have kids record a quick video for each word, using their creativity to make it fun and meaningful.

18. Battle it out in Vocabulary Jeopardy

Vocabulary Jeopardy game with categories like synonym and antonym

Good vocabulary activities encourage more than just memorization of definitions. That’s why we like this Jeopardy game idea. It explores synonyms and antonyms and how words are used in real sentences.

Learn more: Not So Wimpy Teacher

19. Use RAFTs to write vocabulary stories

Vocabulary RAFT printable worksheets

Writing a story using vocab words is a perennial favorite, but the RAFT method gives it a new twist. Students are assigned a Role (the point of view from which they’ll tell the story), an Audience, a Format, and a Topic. For instance, they might be an astronaut (Role) writing a postcard (Format) to their friends back home (Audience) about what they’ve seen on Mars (Topic). RAFTs are especially great for kids who claim they don’t know what to write about.

Learn more: RAFT/Teachingwriting.org

20. Discover the power of words

Write With Power printable vocabulary worksheet

Vocabulary words take on greater meaning when students incorporate them into their daily lives. Challenge kids to use their vocab words in conversation and writing outside the language arts classroom. Use the free printable worksheet here to help them keep track of how often they use them.

21. Create graphic organizers

Colorful graphic organizer for vocabulary words

Colorful organizers like these are terrific vocabulary activities. Want to go digital? Have kids make a slideshow, one slide per word. They can include the same information, but instead of drawing a picture, have them find one online that illustrates the concept.

Learn more: Graphic Organizers/Upper Elementary Snapshots

22. Focus on a Word of the Week

Printable Word of the Week vocabulary worksheet

Give really important terms the attention they deserve. Choose a new vocab word each week, then explore it in depth day by day.

Learn more: Lit in Focus

23. Join the Million Dollar Word Club

Million Dollar Words: Display 6-8 content related words. When a student uses one of the words in academic conversation or writing correctly, the class says

Post a list of target vocab words. If a student uses one of the words in class (outside of vocabulary activities), they become a member of the Million Dollar Word Club! You can have them sign their name on a wall in the classroom or award a badge online. You could even develop this into a reward system for homework passes or extra credit.

Learn more: Million Dollar Words/The Sassy Apple

24. Explore shades of meaning

Paint strips turned into acorns with vocabulary words and synonyms on them (Vocabulary Activities)

This is a cool idea for exploring synonyms and the slight differences that make words unique. Ask for paint sample strips at your local hardware store, or buy a clip art set . In the classroom, use these paint strips to make crafts for a bulletin board. Working in a virtual environment? Have kids print clip art strips at home or use the images to make slides or digital worksheets.

Learn more: Around the Kampfire

25. Personify a word with social media

Hand-drawn Facebook page for the vocabulary word Affluent

This is one of those vocabulary activities kids will want to do over and over again! Assign each student a word and have them create a fake Facebook, Instagram, or other social media page for it. They can draw them freehand or complete a template like these from Teachers Pay Teachers . Post the images to a shared Google slideshow so other students can use them for review.

26. Play vocabulary word Taboo

Vocabulary cards with synonyms on a pink-striped background

In this game, the goal is for one student to get their partner to guess the word by describing or giving examples of it. The trick? There’s a list of additional words they’re not allowed to use! Let other students see the card in advance to help keep the players honest. (Flash it on a whiteboard and have the guesser face away.)

Learn more: Teaching Talking

27. Roll a die for vocabulary activities

Roll a Word printable worksheet for vocabulary practice

Choose a vocab word, then have the student roll a die ( these virtual dice are handy ) to see which activity they get to complete.

Learn more: Roll a Word/Lucky Little Learners

28. Write an acrostic

vocabulary building exercises for high school

Write an acrostic poem for each vocab term, using the letters to determine the first word in each line. This can get really challenging when words are longer!

Learn more: Vocab Acrostic/Upper Elementary Snapshots

29. Play vocabulary board games

a vocabulary board game called word on the street

Everyone knows that playing games is the best way to learn! Try some of these fabulous board games with your students and watch their vocabularies grow!

Learn more: 11 Vocab Games to Make the Learning Stick

30. Become a Word Collector

Word Collector children's book

This is one of those picture books that grown-up kids will enjoy as much as little ones. Use it to remind your kids that they don’t need a vocabulary list to learn new words—new words are all around them. Encourage them to keep a word list or journal of their own to record new words they want to explore and use more often.

Buy it: The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds on Amazon

Reading poetry helps students expand their vocabularies. Check out these must-share poems for elementary school and middle and high school .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and ideas when you sign up for our free newsletters .

Help kids make a deeper connection to new words with these vocabulary activities. They work for any word list, elementary to high school.

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Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

Vocabulary Worksheets

Vocabulary is a fundamental learning concept but covers many different areas. We've developed hundreds of practice activities to help your student improve their vocabulary skills. You'll find worksheet activities around the alphabet, dictionary skills, Fry sight words, Dolch sight words, phonetics, homographs, homophones, prefixes, proverbs and adages, root words, shades of meaning, suffixes, synonyms and antonyms! All of our printable worksheets are designed around common core standards and cover a broad range of skill levels from kindergarten through high school.  Feel free to print copies for your classroom or at home.

Alphabet Worksheets

Cursive Z - Printable Alphabet Letters Practice Activity

Dictionary Skills Worksheets

Using the Dictionary Worsheet Activity - Using Guide Words

These worksheets help students to learn how to effectively use a dictionary. All worksheets are free to use at home or in the classroom. Just print and duplicate!

Fry Word List - 1,000 High Frequency Words

Sight Words List - Free, Printable Fry Word List - Third 100

Homograph Worksheets - Learning About Homographs

What are Homographs - Free, Printable Worksheet Activity

Homophone Worksheets

Correct the Homophones - Free, Printable Homophone Worksheet

Phonics Worksheets | Phonetics

Blended Consonants Worksheet - Creating New Words with ST

Prefix Worksheets

What is the Prefix Worksheet - Free, Printable Activity

Proverbs and Adages Worksheets

vocabulary building exercises for high school

These worksheets hep students to understand the meaning of proverbs and adages, looking into the deeper meaning of these phrases.

Greek and Latin Root Words

Printable Root Word Worksheet - Adding S, ED, and ING

Shades of Meaning Worksheets

Shades of Word Meanings Worksheet - Strong Versus Weak

These worksheets help students learn to interpret the shades of meaning behind specific words, in order to help with reading comprehension and writing.

Suffix Worksheets

What's the Suffix Worksheet - Free, Printable Worksheet Activity

Synonym Worksheets and Antonym Worksheets

Printable Parts of Speech Activity - Synonyms or Antonyms?

Tap to Read ➤

9 Activities to Increase Vocabulary for High School Students

Vocabulary games for high school students, vocabulary toss, vocabulary basketball, vocabulary baseball, vocabulary relay, drawing activities, guess the word, selecting words, ranking words, discover trendy products:.

vocabulary building exercises for high school

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Vocabulary for the High School Student

Vocabulary for the High School Student

Comprehensive vocabulary development

Give students a major boost to their vocabulary with this rigorous vocabulary program designed to build familiarity and usage of over 1,000 words. Modular design gives teachers flexibility to address five topical areas

  • learning new words from context
  • building vocabulary through central ideas
  • deriving words from various languages (Greek, Latin, Anglo-Saxon roots and prefixes)
  • expanding vocabulary through derivatives
  • understanding word relationships and analogies

Varied exercises support common learning standards such as concise expression, close reading, and composition skills. Additional practice opportunities include synonyms, antonyms, sentence completion, analogies, and writing exercises to reinforce students’ command of new vocabulary.

Titles in This Program

vocabulary building exercises for high school

Program Features & Resources

Context-based learning.

  • Explore more than 1,000 high frequency vocabulary words.
  • Lessons introduce words in groups based on central "Big Ideas" —words from context; derivatives; and Latin, Anglo-Saxon, and Greek word parts.

Standards-Based Skills Practice

  • Each lesson's seven comprehensive writing exercises help students gain experience using new words in various situations.
  • Exercises include sentence completion, synonym identification, concise writing analogies, compositions, and more.
  • These exercises address state standards, including analyzing nuances of words with similar denotations, acquisition and accurate use of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, and more.

Use as a Workbook or Reference Source

  • The consumable softcover Workbook includes blank “write on” lines. 324 pages
  • The non-consumable softcover Handbook has no blank “write on” lines. 377 pages

Teacher Guide

Includes lesson plans and templates, 12 reproducible tests, and an answer key.

Sample Pages

Review the Table of Contents and comprehensive skills practice in each chapter.

Student Edition

Correlations

  • Common Core State Standards Correlation

Texas—TEKS Correlations

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  • Teaching secondary
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Vocabulary activities

Have you tried these practical activities to help students with vocabulary learning? There's something for all ages and levels.

vocabulary building exercises for high school

  • Spot the vocabulary
  • Collocation pelmanism
  • Quick revision games
  • Word association recitation
  • The revision box
  • The comparison game
  • Stop the bus
  • Adopt a word
  • Lexical threads
  • The memory game
  • Making it up - Phrasal verb stories
  • Poetic introductions / Picture game
  • Definitions - Get rid of it
  • Word guessing games
  • Wall dictionary
  • Same, opposite or different dictation
  • Vocabulary box
  • Vocabulary phonemic revision activity
  • Vocabulary self-study activities

THANK YOU! so helpful.

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Perfect! thank you!

That was so helpful in my classes.

Thanks for sharing…

Thanks for sharing vocabulary activities! I mostly use hot seat and vocabulary box in teaching, in my point of view these activities help students to remember words easily.

It is very informative

Thanks for the positive feedback,

TeachingEnglish team

USEFULL TIPS!!!

1. reading a lot: reading.

1. Reading a lot: Reading everything we can get your hands on is one of the most passive and most effective ways to boost your vocabulary. 2. Keeping a thesaurus and a dictionary nearby. 3. Making Flashcards.  4. Describing our Surroundings. 5. Listening to Music. 6. Committing to learning one new word every day.

  I have taught English about three and half years but I still cannot find some suitable ways to teach lexis. Thanks to your resouces, hence I can find tons of useful methods for my further teaching.

I find them useful to have up

I find them useful to have up the sleeve and are also motivating--soo important.

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  • Grammar and vocabulary exams

Vocabulary exercise types

Vocabulary exercise types

This section will introduce you to the main types of vocabulary tests and will give you advice and top tips. 

There are many different types of tests to see how much vocabulary a learner knows, from matching words to pictures to completing gaps. This section will introduce you to the main types of vocabulary tests and will give you advice and practice exercises so you will get top marks in your next test.

What type of vocabulary tests do you have at school?

vocabulary building exercises for high school

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vocabulary building exercises for high school

English Vocabulary Exercises

We have a large collection of English vocabulary exercises, with new ones being added regularly. When learning vocabulary, it is especially helpful if there it is focussed on a theme or topic.

english vocabulary

To get started, just select a level from below. 

Vocabulary Exercises for Basic English Learners

Here are exercises for students at a beginner level of English or A1 on the CEFR scale .

Here are exercises for students at an elementary level of English or A1 on the CEFR scale .

  • A1 Body and Face Extra Exercises
  • A1 Clothes Extra Exercises
  • A1 Describing Things
  • A1 Family Extra Exercises
  • A1 Film Star Vocabulary
  • A1 Food and Drink Extra Exercises
  • A1 Greetings and Introductions
  • A1 Health Extra Exercises
  • A1 House and Home
  • A1 Shopping Extra Exercises
  • A1 Sports and Leisure Extra Exercises
  • A1 Talking about People
  • A1 Transport
  • A1 Weather Extra Activities
  • Christmas Easy Exercises

In this section the exercises are for students at a pre-intermediate level of English or A2 on the CEFR scale .

  • A2 Body and Movement
  • A2 Food and Drink
  • A2 Health and Sickness
  • A2 Sports and Leisure
  • A2 Transport
  • A2 World Around Us

In this section the vocabulary exercises are for students at a pre-intermediate level of English or A2 on the  CEFR scale .

  • Christmas Exercises
  • Clothes Exercises
  • Education Exercises
  • Family Exercises
  • Feelings Exercises
  • Food and Drink Exercises
  • House and Home Exercises
  • Numbers and Amount Exercises
  • People Exercises
  • Shopping Exercises
  • Signs and Notices Exercises
  • Time Exercises
  • Travel and Holidays Exercises
  • Valentine’s Day Exercises

Vocabulary Exercises for Independent English Learners

For these vocabulary exercises, they are for students at an intermediate level of English or B1 on the  CEFR scale .

  • Air Travel Exercises
  • Animals and Pets
  • British and American English
  • Chinese New Year
  • Computer Exercises
  • Easter (A2 – B1 Levels)
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Environmental Issues
  • Finance Exercises
  • Food and Drink
  • Leisure and Hobbies
  • Money Exercises
  • Phoning and Texting Exercises
  • Places and Buildings
  • Relationships
  • Transport and Travel
  • Work and Jobs

In this section the exercises are for students at an upper-intermediate level of English or B2 on the CEFR scale .

  • B2 Crime and Law Vocabulary
  • B2 Health and Medicine Ex 2
  • B2 Health and Medicine Ex 3
  • B2 Information Technology Vocabulary
  • B2 Phrasal Verbs Communicating
  • B2 Places and Buildings
  • B2 Places and Buildings Ex 2
  • B2 Places and Buildings Ex 3
  • B2 Vocabulary Entertainment and the Media
  • B2 Vocabulary Exercise 2 | Accommodation
  • B2 Vocabulary Exercise 2 | Entertainment and the media
  • B2 Vocabulary Exercise 3 | Accommodation
  • B2 Vocabulary Exercise 3 | Entertainment and the media

Vocabulary Exercises for Proficient English Learners

For this last section, these exercises are for students at an advanced level of English or C1 on the CEFR scale .

  • British and American English Vocabulary Exercise 1
  • British and American English Vocabulary Exercise 2
  • British and American English Vocabulary Exercise 3
  • Business Vocabulary Exercise
  • Home Vocabulary Exercise 1
  • Home Vocabulary Exercise 2
  • Home Vocabulary Exercise 3
  • Irregular Plural Nouns
  • Newspaper Vocabulary Exercise

Check out our puzzles, activities and games available:

First of all, why not try our match-up games to help you build up your vocabulary to dizzy heights.

Furthermore, our  crossword puzzles  help you to spell linked words correctly to be able to complete the task.

In addition, our word puzzles are especially helpful as you try to retain new words in a different language.

Here are more activities available:

In addition, learning English requires not just a good vocabulary, but a strong foundation of English grammar to communicate effectively and our  grammar exercises provide the practice for this purpose.

Most importantly, once you are at a good level of English, you should combine your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar to understand and produce well-written pieces of text. We provide model text types for you to read and practice.

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10 Fun Vocabulary Games for Your ESL Classroom

Building vocabulary is an essential part of learning English.

But without the right activities, learning new words can feel boring or repetitive.

To keep your ESL students engaged and entertained, incorporate some vocabulary games into your lessons.

In this post, you’ll get 10 vocabulary games to add to your ESL arsenal that you can whip out whenever the lesson gets dull. It’s amazing what a difference a few fun games can make! 

1. Last Man Standing

2. pictionary, 3. charades, 4. taboo words, 5. 20 objects, 6. categories, 7. letter scramble, 8. chalkboard acronym, 9. what am i thinking of, 10. word bingo.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Materials needed: a ball that can be passed around

This game is fast-paced but allows students some time to think. It also encourages peer learning , as students will pick up on words they hear others speaking.

To play the game:

  • Grab a ball and have all the students form a circle.
  • Name a category or theme , such as things found in a kitchen, food, professions, and so on.
  • Begin by tossing the ball to a student. That student will shout a word related to the theme and throw the ball to another student.
  • As each person catches the ball, they need to come up with another word that fits the theme. If they repeat a word that has already been said or can’t think of a new one within a few seconds, they’re out and must sit on the sidelines. Don’t worry, they’ll still be learning!

Take things up a notch with a different version of “Last Man Standing.” Instead of naming a theme for the whole game, each student gives the next student a new theme.

For example, you might start off with “something red.” The first student to catch the ball could say “strawberry” and then chooses another topic like “animals” and throws the ball to the next student. This makes the game much more difficult, since students can’t think of a word until they know what their theme is.

Materials needed: cards from the Pictionary board game (or make your own), a chalkboard/whiteboard and something to keep time

Most English speakers are familiar with the drawing game Pictionary . You can use the cards from the actual board game to create a classroom activity that will thrill your students.

To play in a classroom with many students, it’s not very practical to use the game board. This means you’ll be using the chalkboard or whiteboard at the front of the room.

  • Divide the class into two teams and create a small column for each team on one side of the board. You’ll record their points here.
  • Have one person from Team A come up to the front. Have the student draw a card (try using Pictionary Junior cards if the adult ones are too advanced for your class). Alternatively, you can write words on slips of paper for students to choose.
  • The student must convey the word to his or her team using only drawings. Students cannot use words, symbols or hand gestures.
  • Limit the time to three minutes maximum. Each correct word is a point and the first team to get 10 points is the winning team.

Materials needed: slips of paper with vocabulary words written on them, something to keep time

Charades is quite similar to Pictionary , but it uses actions to communicate the secret word in place of photos. This is a great game for those days when your class is dragging and people are falling asleep. Get them up and moving!

  • Write down words on slips of paper for students to choose from. Verbs are likely to be the easiest, but you can also use more complicated words, provided you are sure most of the students know them.
  • Divide the class into two teams and have one person from each team choose a piece of paper and act out the word.
  • The teams must guess the correct word before three minutes run out. For each correct word, that team receives a point. The team that hits ten points first is the winning team.

Materials needed: pieces of paper with vocabulary words written on them, something to keep time

Taboo Words helps students practice using synonyms and descriptions.

  • Separate the class in half and have the two teams sit on opposite sides of the room, facing each other.
  • Each team will choose a person to sit in front of their team, facing them in the “hot seat.” You’ll stand behind the students and hold up a piece of paper with a word on it. The students in the hot seats will not be able to see these papers.
  • Teams have three minutes (or any amount of time you want to set) to get their hot seat member to say the word on the paper. The catch is, they can’t say the word under any circumstances.

If you have more than 12 students in a class, things can get a little chaotic with this game. In this case, it’s usually simpler to divide everyone into teams of 5–6 people and have only one team go at a time.

Materials needed: a desk or table, 20 small items and a sheet or something similar to cover items with 

Test your students’ memories and vocabulary at the same time with this fun game!

  • Arrange the objects on the desk and let students gather around to look at them.
  • After one minute, cover everything with a sheet (or something similar) and send everyone back to their seats.
  • Each student should write out as many items as they can remember on a piece of paper, all in English.
  • When everyone is done, write a list of the items on the board and allow students to self-correct. Alternatively, you can call out the objects and give a point for each one that is correctly written.

Materials needed: a piece of paper and something to write with for each student

Students will beg to play this game once they get the hang of it! It’s a great way to fill up the last few minutes of class, too.

  • Have students draw six columns on their paper and write a category at the top of each column. You can choose categories that fit what you’ve been studying in class or go with some basics. Popular categories include food, names, cities or countries, furniture, verbs and clothing.
  • Choose a random letter and write it on the board.
  • Give students enough time to write down a word for each category that starts with that letter. Or, make it a race to see who can write a word for each category first. When they’re done, they yell “Categories!” and everyone must stop. 
  • You can repeat with new letters as many times as you like.

For more advanced students , you can push them to come up with more unique words by awarding 10 points per completed category if no other student wrote the same word or 5 points if more than one student wrote the word.

Materials needed: a list of vocabulary words

This is a fun game that you can use at the end of class when you need to fill time but also want to make it educational. Beyond working with the vocabulary your students are learning, this game will stretch their brains and make them think in a different way.

  • Take a list of words that your students have recently learned and write a scrambled version of each on the board.
  • Allow students to unscramble the words on their paper.
  • The first student to finish deciphering all the words wins.

You can also have each student find a word in their book or materials and write a scrambled version on the board one at a time. Then have the whole class try to figure it out together!

Materials needed: a chalkboard and chalk or whiteboard and markers 

This is a fun way to see how many words your students have learned—the result might surprise them! 

  • Write a word vertically on the board. 
  • Ask students to come up, one at a time, to write a word starting with each letter of the vertical word. For example:

Make this tougher by requiring the words to be related to the acronym. Or add some competition by dividing the class into two teams and having them race to finish filling in the words.

Materials needed: blank pieces of paper and something for students to write with 

If you’ve ever played 20 Questions, you already know how this game goes. To make it a little easier on your students, however, you’re going to include some clues.

  • Pair students up and have them think of an object.
  • Each student should write 5-10 words describing the object on a piece of paper.
  • When you call time, the students swap papers and try to figure out what the other person described.
  • The first team to have both words guessed correctly wins.

Materials needed: bingo sheets with a 4×4 grid and a vocabulary word in each square, something to cover squares with (or pencils with erasers)

You’ll need to do a little preparation for this game, but it’s well worth it.

Hand out your bingo sheets (each one should be unique) and have students mark the correct word (and repeat it out loud) when you call it out. The first person to finish marking their entire page wins.

There are some fun variations to Word Bingo!

  • Picture Bingo: Use pictures on the Bingo card and call out the words that relate.
  • Synonym Bingo: Get those brains working by giving students a word that means the same thing as a word on their card.
  • Antonym Bingo: This is just as it sounds. Call out the antonyms of words on their cards and see how many students get it.

You can use FluentU for this variation of the Bingo game. Choose from over 1,000 authentic videos in English by searching for specific words to find a video that features them, or choose a video aligned with your students’ interests (like a scene from their favorite movie).

vocabulary building exercises for high school

These vocabulary games will make your ESL lessons a little more exciting. They also incorporate a variety of different language skills including reading , speaking and listening . 

Whatever game you choose, try to maintain a good balance of fun and productive learning. And keep in mind that games make great rewards for when your students do well in class! 

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vocabulary building exercises for high school

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August 10, 2023 VG Seasonal Activities Fall , VG Writing with Vocabulary 6-12 , Vocab Gal , ELA Seasonal - Winter , ELA Seasonal Back to School , ELA Resources - Activities , ELA 9-12 , ELA PD - Leadership , ELA PD - Other , ELA PD - Classroom Management , ELA PD - Vocabulary , ELA Resources - Games , ELA Focus - Vocabulary

5 team-building activities for high school students, by: vocab gal.

In this article, you'll discover how team-building activities benefit high school students, ways to ensure team-building activities will be successful, and a variety of classroom-tested activities. Plus, download free printable team-building activities that can be used at the start of a new school year or new semester!

In this article, you'll discover how team-building activities benefit high school students, ways to ensure team-building activities will be successful, and a variety of classroom-tested activities. Plus, download free printable team-building activities that can be used at the start of a new school year or new semester!

Benefits of Team-Building Activities for Students

Many students might groan and roll their eyes if asked to participate in these activities, but they do have significant benefits. Furthermore, many teachers might be loath to take the time to conduct these activities, although they bring with them enormous gains. Benefits of team-building activities for students include:

Provide a common experience among peers

Allow students to feel more comfortable in group settings

Require students to develop communication skills through conversations

Encourage students to learn academic content with and from one another

5 Fun Team-Building Activities for Students  

It’s critical to help develop students’ social interaction skills, which can easily be done in the classroom through team-building activities. When team-building activities are used routinely in classrooms, the classroom space becomes a shared, safe zone where students feel comfortable and ready to learn. These short games not only allow students to gain valuable skills but also develop empathy and often improve their self-esteem. 

Most activities should only take between five and ten minutes and can be used once or on multiple occasions. Classroom time is valuable, and these activities are designed to minimize time and maximize outcomes.

Activity #1– Make a Burger

Class time: 5–10 minutes, group size: 5–7 students, resources needed: burger template cut out into pieces, tape, skills focus: teamwork, trust-building.

This is a rather quick and silly team-building activity for high school students. Instruct the class that they are to work in groups to make a full hamburger that starts with a bun, and that has pickle, lettuce, tomato, cheese, meat, and another bun in that order. Tape one ingredient onto each student’s back and instruct students to work together to find all the necessary ingredients and then line up in order. The first group to do so correctly wins.

You can either play silently, or you can tell students to say what ingredient is on their backs, but instead only provide hints.

Academic Focus: Replay this game using vocabulary words and definitions, planet names, math problems and solutions, and so on.

Instruct the class that they are to work in groups to make a full hamburger that starts with a bun, and that has pickle, lettuce, tomato, cheese, meat and another bun in that order. Tape one ingredient onto each student’s back and instruct students to work together to find all the necessary ingredients and then line up in order. The first group to do so correctly wins.

Activity #2– Vocab Improv

Group size: any range between five students and a full class, resources needed: list of academic vocabulary to use, example video, skills focus: trust building.

Have students stand in a circle. The first student chooses a subject-related word and acts out a motion that corresponds with the word’s meaning in some way. The rest of the students in the group then echo the word and the motion together. The next student in the group chooses a new word and acts out a corresponding motion. The rest of the students then echo that word and motion, followed by the first student’s word and motion. This sequence repeats until all students in the group have their own word and motion and have reiterated everyone else’s word and motion.

To begin the game, the first student says his/her word and motion and then says another student’s word and motion. That student must say his/her word and motion and pick another student’s word and motion.

The game repeats until a called-upon student cannot recall another’s word and motion fast enough (three seconds) and is “out.” When only two people are left, both are winners.

Caveat: no student can reiterate the previous student’s word and motion.

Academic Focus: By creating motions tied to academic vocabulary and reiterating these words and motions numerous times, students develop deep connections to these words.

Try playing this game throughout the year, and have students use their peers’ previous words and motions to call upon them, as well as current words and motions.

Activity #3– Best Parts of Our School

Class time: 5–20 minutes (each part of this activity can take place on a separate day), group size: 4–6 students, resources needed: best parts of our school handout, skills focus: teamwork, leadership.

Often, students feel disgruntled about school, so this team-building activity for high school students encourages everyone to look for the positive, rather than the negative.

First, each individual should complete the top of the handout, listing three specific aspects of the school they like. Then, assign students to groups of approximately four to six, making sure that students work with people they do not know well, rather than simply working with friends. Have the students each share three ideas in their groups, and then work together to choose which ones to include in a group list of five positive aspects about their school. Next, each group selects a representative to go to the board to write down his or her group’s list.

Finally, the representatives work with the whole class in order to combine the top five lists into one class-wide top ten list. Try to post this list so students remember both working together and the positive aspects of school!

Academic Focus: Ask students to use academic vocabulary in their lists or to utilize strong writing techniques, such as action verbs or figurative language, when creating each point.

Ask students to use academic vocabulary in their lists or to utilize strong writing techniques, such as action verbs or figurative language, when creating each point

Activity #4– Create a Vocabulary Game Board

Class time: 10–60 minutes (each part of this activity can take place on a separate day), group size: 2–3 students, resources needed: activity directions, game board instruction sheet, two game board templates, game piece template, blank game cards.

Students love to play board games, so asking them to design their own provides them with a new and exciting challenge. Have students work together, possibly by formatively assessing their understanding of a concept and then grouping them in high-medium-low understanding groups. Alternatively, grouping them in like-understanding (all highs, all mediums, all lows) partnerships can also allow for thoughtful outcomes.

Have students discuss and agree upon an overall theme for the game, then complete each aspect of the board game including:

Activity Directions

Game Board Instruction Sheet

Two Game Board Templates

Game Piece Template

Blank Game Cards

Academic Focus: Take any unit that needs further review or understanding and ask students to create a board game that highlights various aspects of the concept.

Academic Focus: Take any unit that needs further review or understanding and ask students to create a board game that highlights various aspects of the concept.

Activity #5– Your Enigmatic Self

Class time: 5 minutes (spread out over multiple days), group size: 3–4 students, resources needed: enigmatic self handout.

Students write down three aspects of themselves that no one else knows. Assign students to groups of three or four and ask them to read their information to each other.

Each day, have one member of the group read all of the group’s fact sheets to begin the class and have the rest of the students guess which group member is which. Have students celebrate one another’s unique selves, and make sure to reiterate the need to respect each other.

Academic focus: Encourage students to use academic vocabulary when describing themselves.

Academic focus: Encourage students to use academic vocabulary when describing themselves.

How to Ensure Team-Building Activities Are a Success

In order for activities to be successful, classroom leaders must establish clear expectations.

INSIST ON A SAFE ZONE The most important aspect of team-building activities is that they demonstrate that the classroom is a safe zone. When working through the team-building activities with students, I emphasize my number one rule, which is mutual respect and acceptance. Students must remain positive and respectful toward their fellow learners, and that includes me!

ESTABLISH TRUST TO BUILD COMMUNITY In a classroom, a sense of community is vital in order for students to produce authentic writing, receive constructive feedback from peers, and have meaningful discussions. Emphasizing in each activity the importance of trusting one another, classroom leaders build a sense of classroom community.

EMPHASIZE EMPATHY AND ESTEEM These team-building activities encourage students to empathize with their classmates who may be different from them and will also help to build up their own self-esteem as they work with others. Classroom leaders must stress the need for students to learn from one another and to respect the similarities and differences that all of their classmates bring to each activity.

ENCOURAGE LEARNING I always like to ensure that there is an academic purpose to all aspects of classroom activities, so, as a classroom leader, I ask students to use academic vocabulary and utilize their prior learned knowledge during discussions.

(SOMETIMES) FRAME AS A COMPETITION Finally, if a classroom leader faces significant resistance from students, framing the activity as a challenge or competition can motivate them. Do remember to emphasize that the competition or challenge being carried out can be completed by everyone and that respect and ethical behavior are paramount, as some students may attempt to cheat in order to win.

The Best Time to Use Team-Building Activities

Team-building activities can happen throughout the school year. They can be used for a myriad of reasons and for a multitude of purposes.

Some classroom leaders may want to use these activities at the beginning of the school year in order to establish a classroom culture and then continue to use activities once or twice a quarter to re-establish concepts, review learning, or deepen rapport.

Other teachers may use them later in the year or at the start of the second semester in order to re-focus a classroom or for a specific unit of study.

Alternatively, classroom leaders can employ team-building activities at the end of the year to encourage more authentic peer review for assignments or as a new challenge for students.

In Conclusion

Team-building is fun and has a huge number of benefits, from developing classroom community to reinforcing academic concepts. Each of the five team-building activities allows students to learn with and from each other and deepens connections between peers.

As students become more and more disconnected from their peers and their learning because they spend much of their time on social media, team-building activities are a great way to reconnect students to their school and to their education and to have fun while doing so.

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COMMENTS

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  2. PDF Vocabulary Games and Activities

    Word games grouped by topic to help build student vocabulary For further help with: • CEFR level of words • Pronunciation • Definitions • Example Sentences visit: English Vocabulary Profile: http://www.englishprofile.org/index.php/wordlists Cambridge Dictionaries Online: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ © UCLES 2013.

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  6. 7 Effective Vocabulary-Building Activities

    Select 5-6 words from a chapter or selection students are about to read. Have students turn to the page in which each word is located. Ask the students to read the word in context and try to figure out its meaning. Have students write down what they think each word means. Discuss possible meanings and arrive at a definition in this context.

  7. VocabTrainer

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  8. 5 Ways to Make Teaching High School Vocabulary Fun and Interesting

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    1. Learner directed: Ask students to choose their words. With this approach of acquiring words, students will choose terms to study from a reading assignment, most often a novel. This method takes extra work because you won't have a master for grading. I've also found that it's labor intensive.

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  11. 17 Printable Vocabulary-Building Games

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  12. 21 Ideas for Teaching Vocabulary in the Classroom

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  18. Vocabulary for the High School Student

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    What type of vocabulary tests do you have at school? Language level B1 English level (intermediate) B2 English level (upper intermediate) Topics exams vocabulary studying learning English Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Average: 2.3 (3 votes) Complete the gaps Match the words and the pictures

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    Pre-A1 Beginner Level A1 Elementary Level A2 Pre-Intermediate Level (Flyers) A2 Pre-Intermediate Level (A2 Key) Vocabulary Exercises for Independent English Learners B1 Intermediate Level B2 Upper Intermediate Level Vocabulary Exercises for Proficient English Learners C1 Advanced Level Check out our puzzles, activities and games available:

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    10 Fun Vocabulary Games for Your ESL Classroom. Building vocabulary is an essential part of learning English. But without the right activities, learning new words can feel boring or repetitive. To keep your ESL students engaged and entertained, incorporate some vocabulary games into your lessons.

  23. 5 Team-Building Activities for High School Students

    Activity #1- Make a Burger. Class Time: 5-10 minutes. Group Size: 5-7 students. Resources Needed: Burger template cut out into pieces, tape. Skills Focus: Teamwork, Trust-Building. This is a rather quick and silly team-building activity for high school students. Instruct the class that they are to work in groups to make a full hamburger ...