4/19/2020

4 Word Challenges to Build Vocabulary at Home This Summer (Grades Pre-K–5)

One aspect of being at home with children 24/7 during the summer: You get to learn a lot about them.

With day-to-day interactions, families have the opportunity to learn more about their children’s conversational ability through everything from expressions of feelings to discussions about what they learned before summer break. Their growing vocabulary and understanding may surprise you!

Vocabulary is an important part of oral language, which lays the foundation for reading and writing skills. Expanding children’s vocabulary isn’t just about memorizing word lists—it’s about the knowledge of both concrete and abstract word meanings, as well as the relationships among words.

You’ll hear your children pick up some new words as you go about your day, whether you find yourself watching the news and explaining the day’s events or saying “no” to relentless requests for ice cream.

One simple tip: When you’re reading aloud or watching a movie together, occasionally pause and ask your growing reader if they know a certain word, and give a simple explanation if not.

Word lists can play a role in vocabulary development by introducing unfamiliar words and building an understanding of different meanings and relationships between words. For example, many children know a seal as an animal that lives in the ocean, but do they understand what it means to seal an envelope? How about a seal of approval?

Here are four fun, multisensory challenges for exploring word meanings, each of which can be adapted for foundational through intermediate readers (pre-K through grade 5). The challenges are organized into Words of the Week, but feel free to introduce a word challenge whenever you need a simple activity!

Teachers, please share these suggestions with your students and families:

Words of the Week 1

• Shiny
• Fancy
• Soft
• Sturdy
• Smooth

What do these words have in common? They can all be used to describe things. Talk about the meaning of each word, have your growing reader use each word in a sentence, and brainstorm related words together. Then, it's time to go on a scavenger hunt for items that fit each description.

Words of the Week 2

• Wave
• Bark
• Fan
• Trunk
• Bat

What do these words have in common? They all have more than one meaning. Talk about the different meanings of each word, have your growing reader use each word in two different sentences, and brainstorm related words together. Then, have your child illustrate the different meanings. Bonus points for including both meanings in one scene.

Words of the Week 3

• Goldfish
• Pancake
• Sunshine
• Lipstick
• Football

What do these words have in common? They're all compound words made up of two smaller words. Talk about the meaning of each word, have your growing reader use each word in a sentence, and brainstorm related words together. Then, have your child draw the meanings of each smaller word followed by the meaning of the compound word.

Words of the Week 4

• Match
• Staple
• Spring
• Right
• Seal

What do these words have in common? They all have more than one meaning. Talk about the different meanings of each word, have your growing reader use each word in two different sentences, and brainstorm related words together. Then, have your child illustrate the different meanings. Bonus points for including both meanings in one scene.

We’ll continue to provide simple, at-home activity ideas to promote literacy this summer. By exploring these diverse methods, you can discover what works best for your family, making reading a fun and integral part of your children's daily lives. Together, let’s foster a love for reading that will last a lifetime.