English Dictionary

In the first entry of our blog we will recommend the use of an English dictionary to improve our pupils vocabulary learning.


How to improve our 2nd cycle pupil's vocabulary? Make an English Dictionary 

         A good and motivating way to improve our pupils vocabulary is to make a personal English dictionary. It is a very simple craft activity, that can be done in just one lesson, and that can be a valuable resource to practice vocabulary and spelling. In addition to this, it gives us a good oportunity to use language in a practical and real way, giving the instructions and the name of the materials in English. Even more important, using this dictionary we will avoid giving our pupils lists of vocabulary to study, they will copy and translate all the words by themselves.

Material needed: 

 Paper, cardboard, scissors, little bookbinders and a hole maker. 

First step: Decoration 

First our pupils can draw, colour and decorate the dictionary freely. We need to make sure that each of them have got 26 little pages(one per each letter.They write the letter at the top of each page and use both sides to write words beginning with this letter). 

2nd Step: assemble the dictionary

Then we need to make the holes to the paper and cardboard and put the little bookbinders. And that's it!!It is ready to use.

Tips: show them finished examples of each step, so they can figure out what you want them to do. avoid translations, either made by you or children, and give short and simple instructions repeting as many times as needed. You can also add next to the letter in ecah page a simple transcription of the sound F/ef/.

I hope you like and find it useful!!