Visual Dictionary

Visual Dictionary

Purpose:

Supporting Thinking

Additional Purpose(s):

Interacting with Text, Synthesizing Learning

Overview:

This process supports deeper understanding of words or concepts that are unfamiliar to learners and that may not have a “real-life” context.

Procedure:

  1. Have learners work with a partner or in small groups to construct shared understanding of a concept or word using the Visual Dictionary organizer (see below in Materials). 
    • Upper left quadrant – identify the word or concept 
    • Upper right quadrant – create a visual representation to illustrate understanding 
    • Lower left quadrant –identify a personal connection to the concept or word – a connection that will help anchor the meaning for learners 
    • Lower right quadrant – create a definition of the word or concept in learners’ own words 

Materials:

Visual Dictionary Organizer

Source:

https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/word_maps