Four Column Vocabulary Lesson

Lesson Plan for teaching Four Column Vocabulary

( Credit Dr. Kate Kinsella and her keynote speech at the OELA Conference, 10/2007 in Washington DC for the Four Column Vocabulary Model)

Vocabulary words:

tedious

dissect

entomologist

Procedure:

1. Have the students make 4 wide columns across a page in their notebooks and then have them write these headings:

a. Word
b. Words Associated with it
c. Picture
d. Sentence

2. Write the word in the first column and elicit words that go with it. Use gestures, pictures and actions.

3. Write these words in the second column

4. In the third column, students draw a picture that illustrates the word

5. Then it is on to the sentence column. First, the teacher asks the students to find the vocabulary word in the text and copy that sentence. (Return to the journal entry and find that sentence).Then the teacher gives an example of a sentence with that word in it and the students copy it. After that, the teacher starts a sentence and the students finish it. Students should not create their own sentences yet, as they still don’t totally “own” the word. See the examples below.

dissect (v) Cut up, make little pieces, separate into pieces so that one can look inside , examine, analyze, criticize

Sentences: Clark is using a special instrument so that he can dissect the insects.
The biology teacher used a sharp scissors and a knife to dissect the frog.
“ I want to ______ the butterfly” said Juan.




6. Continue this process with entomologist and tedious, along with 3 or 4 other words, that could be review words. When done, create a worksheet that requires that they use these words, and in some cases make changes in them (add prefixes, suffixes, change the tense, pluralize, etc)

Here is a partial sample.

1. An ________________ studies insects. Sometimes he has to _____________ them so that he can get a better idea of what is on the inside. ____________________often work at a university and are referred to as research _______________. They word very hard and often the work is __________, or boring.


Entomologist tedious scientist dissect caterpillars

*** Always give them more responses than questions. It makes for less guessing.*****

7. Make up a similar worksheet for them to do for homework or in pairs. Then, and only then, ask them to write sentences on their own. And as ELLs they still might not be sure of the word and you will get a sentence like….
“I have a tedious.” Or “ My brother is a dissect”
But if you follow this plan, it will probably happen less often.

Assessment:
1. Check their papers or notebooks
2. Check the worksheets.
3. Listen to their sentences and correct them before they write them if necessary. Then check their final productions