Fifth Grade
Worksheets
Strategies for Studying Vocabulary
Friday there will be a big vocabulary test. You will be tested on thirty new vocabulary words from your science textbook. It is time to start studying! But how do you go about it? Reading the words and definitions over and over is not very effective. And besides, it's BORING! Read on for some interesting ways to study vocabulary.
Of course, there is always the tried-and-true flashcard method of studying vocabulary. You write the word on one side of an index card and the definition on the back. But this is still not very exciting. Why not "spice-up" your flashcards a little? Draw pictures instead of writing the definitions. Let's say you are studying land forms. For the word plateau, you can draw a wide, flat-topped hill. For the word valley, you can draw two mountains side-by-side. Then make an arrow pointing to the V-shaped space between them. This will give you visual clues, making it easier to remember the terms and definitions.
Once the flashcards are made, you need to study them. You can make a game of it by putting the cards in a pile with the words facing up. Choose a card, look at the word, and then try to come up with the definition. Then, turn the card over to see if you are correct. Start two new piles, one for the words you get correct, and one for the words you get wrong. Keep studying the words you miss, adding them to the correct pile as you get them right. It is very motivating to watch the correct pile grow! You can also study this way with a partner, keeping track of how many each of you gets right. This makes for an interesting competition.
