Encourage KS3 students to use more ambitious vocabulary in their written work with these lexicon-stretching activities suggested by Charlotte Hawker…
How can you improve the breadth of vocabulary that your students have at their disposal, in order to enhance their writing? How can you ensure that learners are fully engaged in the process of self-consciously crafting their own language?
These are skills we need to cultivate over time. However, this PDF features activities that will extend the breadth of language for your students right from the start.
Ambitious vocabulary KS3 learning objectives
- Actively appreciate the differences between simple and more complex vocabulary
- Develop your own range of vocabulary
Starter activity
Ask for one volunteer from each half of the classroom to come up to the front and stand facing each other. Stand in the middle with a ‘hammer’ (a rolled up piece of paper) in hand.
The challenge for the players is to take a category that you give to them and, as the ‘hammer’ swings back and forth between them, think of as many descriptive words for it as possible.
Repeating a word, or failing to think of one, results in a tap from the ‘hammer’. You then award the win to the other player.
To make this less pressured and/or for less confident classes, play it in groups of three around the room.
Charlotte Hawker has a BA in English Literature from Royal Holloway University; she is a qualified Advanced Skills Teacher and has been teaching English for nine years. Download another lesson plan about improving vocabulary in KS3.
