Wow Up Your Words!

Strategies for improving and developing vocabulary

Lancashire Primary Strategy: Literacy

Presented by Lancashire’s Leading Literacy Teachers

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Objectives from the Primary Framework for literacy Foundation Stage • Extend their vocabulary, explore the meanings and sounds of new words Year One • Experiment with and build new stores of words to communicate in different

contexts • Find and use new and interesting words and phrases, including story language Year Two • Explain ideas and processes using imaginative and adventurous vocabulary

and non-verbal gestures to support communication. • Explore how particular words are used, including words and expressions with

similar meanings • Make adventurous word and language choices appropriate to the style and

purpose of the text Year Three • Develop and use specific vocabulary in different contexts • Explore how different texts appeal to readers using…descriptive language • Select and use a range of technical and descriptive vocabulary Year Four • Use knowledge of word structures and origins to develop their understanding of

word meanings • Explain how writers use figurative and expressive language to create images

and atmosphere • Show imagination through the language used to create emphasis, humour,

atmosphere or suspense Year Five • Distinguish between everyday use of words and their subject-specific use • Explore how writers use language for comic and dramatic effects • Select words and language drawing on their knowledge of literary features and

formal and informal writing Year Six • Explore how word meanings change when used in different contexts • Integrate words, images and sounds imaginatively for different purposes

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Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae ISBN 1-84121-565-1 Gerald was a tall giraffe Whose neck was long and slim But his knees were awfully bandy And his legs were rather thin. He was very good at standing still And munching shoots off trees, But when he tried to run around He buckled at the knees. Now every year in Africa They hold a jungle dance Where every single animal Turns up to skip and prance And this year when the day arrived Poor Gerald felt so sad, Because when it came to dancing He was really very bad. The warthogs started waltzing And the rhinos rock ‘n’ rolled The lions danced a tango that was elegant and bold.

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slim

bandy

munching

buckle

prance

elegant

bold

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Key vocabulary within the areas of provision

Creative • Names of materials and equipment, eg brush, printer, stamper, roller, ink, fabric, glue,

charcoal…. • Pattern, print, mark, paint, scrape, tear, stick, shape, mould, squeeze, trickle, pour, scratch,

dab, shade, colour • Splash, spray, spatter, score, push, pour, slip, slide, dribble, spurt, squirt, • Imaginative and descriptive language – when children are talking about their creative work • Positional vocabulary associated with weaving – under, over, through, behind • Vocabulary associated with patterning ,line and shape – round, curved, bendy, spiralling Sand (wet and dry) • Names of materials and equipment, eg spade, bucket, rake, plant pot, container, scoop • Fill up, dig out, empty, flatten out, level off, move about, pile up, sink in, smooth out, crumble,

disappear, break, overflow, fall • Wet, dry, damp, soggy, soaked, squelchy, warm, cold, clammy, soft, hard, gritty, solid, level,

lumpy, crumbly, rough, sharp, spiky, silky, smooth, swampy, runny, gooey, sticky, slimy • Pattern, print, mark, wave, ripple, shape, mould, squeeze, trickle, pour, scratch, drag, drop, slide • Full(er), empty, emptier, big(ger), small(er), tall(er), short(er), wide(er), long(er), thin(ner), heavy,

heavier, light(er), wide, narrow, space, edge, order, size Construction • Name of construction kit • Names of component parts • 2D shapes – circle, square, oblong, triangle • 3D shapes – sphere, cube, cuboid, cone • Big/bigger, small/smaller, long/longer, tall/taller, high/higher, heavy/heavier, wide/wider • Number names • Ordinal numbers – 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc • Positional vocabulary – in front, behind, beside, underneath, above, below • Directional language – up, down, around, left, right Writing/mark-making • Writing, story, letters, words, capital letter, sentences, numbers, write, read, send, listen, talk,

hear, say, tell, show, author, illustrator, pages, print, alphabet, sound, beginning, end, front, back, title, fiction, non-fiction, story, rhyme, fairy-tale, book, cover, label, sign, poster, ticket, pictures.

• They will also begin to be familiar with: Letter and number names (some or all). The language used when ‘talking through’ letter formation and shared/individual writing. Planning and story language. Vocabulary related to equipment, materials & bookmaking eg pens, pencils, crayons, envelope, sellotape, stapler …

Role Play Vocabulary associated with ‘feelings’ – ‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘angry’, ‘worried’, ‘frightened’, etc Vocabulary linked to props and resources related to theme – homes, rooms, shops, medical

services, transport & travel, animals, etc Vocabulary linked to rhymes and stories Language associated with different roles – family members, different jobs, taking messages,

using the telephone Giving instructions and directions Language associated with different situations – sorting out problems, enquiring, complaining,

etc.

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Outdoor Play • associated with actions, movements and skills – run, walk, jump, skip, hop, throw, roll, catch,

aim, target, dribble, over arm, under arm, leap, stretch, spring • associated with directions & positional language – forwards, backwards, sideways, next to

under, over, through, beneath, below, above, behind, in front of, high, low, etc. • associated with equipment & resources – ball, koosh ball, quoit, skittles, rope, tunnel, bean bag,

hoop, bench, mat, plank, • mathematical language – heavy, light, big, small, long, short, full, empty • language associated with changes to body during physical activities – hot, sweating, thirsty,

flushed, out of breath, aching, muscles, energy • language associated with feelings, senses – happy, sad, excited, frightened, hot, cold, shivery,

warm, rough, smooth, hard, soft, crinkly , etc. • Language associated with weather – wet, dry, drizzly, foggy, icy, puddle, drips, sleet, hail

stones, windy, misty, frozen Water • Names of materials and equipment, e.g. water wheel, jug, bottle, cup, bowl, spoon, teapot,

watering can, tubes, pipes, sponge, hole • Drop, droplet, drip, puddle, thick, thin, change • Wet, dry, damp, soggy, soaked, squelchy, warm, cold, hot, freezing, lumpy, silky, smooth • Splash, spray, bubble, wave, ripple, squeeze, trickle, pour, slip, slide, soak, spread, leak,

dribble, spurt, squeeze, squirt, run off, brim, wobble, drench, fountain, jet • Full(er), empty, emptier, big(ger), small(er), tall(er), short(er), wide(er), long(er), thin(er), heavy,

heavier, light(er), wide, narrow, space, edge, order, size, deep, deeper, deepest • Under, over, behind, next to, inside, through, tip, tilt, bob, float, capsize, drift • Vocabulary associated with imaginative and small world play – people and boats, pirates, under

sea creatures, car wash… Reading Area • Book language – cover, title page, contents, index …. • Letter • Word • Sentence • Rhyme • Sign • Label • Poster • Story • Character • Fiction, non fiction

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Word Play Jokes for Children

Jokes involving word play – puns! I couldn't quite remember how to throw a boomerang, but eventually it came back to me.

The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

A hole has been found in the roof of the secret hideway. The police are looking into it.

Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat says to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.'

We were so poor when I was growing up we couldn't even afford to pay attention.

Now matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

He didn't tell his mother that he ate some glue. His lips were sealed.

He had been told he had a photographic memory, but it was never fully developed.

The man who fell into the upholstery machine is now fully recovered.

Question: Why is it difficult to keep a secret at the North Pole?

Answer: Because your teeth chatter

Customer: Waiter! Waiter! What's wrong with this fish?

Waiter: Long time, no sea

Son: Dad, there's a man here collecting for a new swimming pool.

Dad: Well son, give him a glass of water

Question: What's a sheep's favourite Christmas carol? Answer: We wish ewe a Merry Christmas.

Question: What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Answer: Snowflakes!

Question: Who beats his chest and swings from Christmas cake to Christmas cake? Answer: Tarzipan!

Question: How did Robin Hood tie his shoe-laces? Answer: With a long bow!

Question: Why was the Little Mermaid embarrassed? Answer: Because she saw the big ship's bottom!

Question: How do we know that Rapunzel went to a lot of parties? Answer: Because she liked to let her hair down!

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Nouns for ‘Articulate’

spoon spade vase spanner hammer pencil scissors needle earring seatbelt pram tap computer banana tyre caravan scarf table

Synonym Race Useful words to explore might be… look, said, went, eat, touch

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Grid for ‘Talking Verbs’

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The Power of Words

sad

glum

miserable

heartbroken

worried

alarmed

panicky

petrified

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Compound Words

play ground air port

jelly fish under ground over use news paper whole meal class room out side

window pane

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Crazy Definitions Abundance Lots of dancing cakes Armies Earwig Elastic band Fish Fingers Gladiator Hippies Labrador Microwave

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Sensory Scene

see hear

smell feel/touch