A strong vocabulary is a wonderful thing to possess. It makes colors brighter, vision sharper, sounds louder, and activities more enjoyable. Every day is a perfect time to learn new words, discover the origins of others, and explore the way the world’s languages mix as cultures and communities interact. To demonstrate, here are 5 interesting and engaging activities for Montessori elementary school students that will enrich their lives and bring new imagination to their ideas.
- Word-A-Day
A dictionary and Montessori classroom staples like a pencil and paper are the only things you need for this interesting activity. Choose a dictionary page randomly, and without looking at it place your index finger on a word with your eyes closed. Some words will be simple and commonplace, but others will add volumes to a child’s vocabulary. The goal is to learn how to spell, use, and pronounce each day’s word.
- Cultural Contributions
Words have roots in many different languages, and where a word originates shows us a lot about distant cultures and how they have taken part in shaping the global community. Cultural roots can spur activities on all types of learning, including geography, customs, language, and society.
- Food for Thought
Food is another subject that everyone loves, and an excellent way to expand vocabulary. This is also another area where global influences have merged into common language. Did you know that “banana” has arabic roots, or that “bean” came from the German language? But food-related words can go anywhere you like, including learning about farms, growing vegetables, and more.
- Rhyming Games
Elementary school children love rhyming, and rhyming games stimulate critical thinking skills, broaden vocabulary, and increase word recognition and retention. Writing down rhymes is a fun way to practice handwriting skills, improve spelling, and promote better pronunciation. Rhymes are also perfect for word play games like using words that rhyme but are spelled in different ways.
- Descriptive Speech
Language may be the most important development of mankind. With a strong vocabulary, children can communicate more fluently, and express ideas more clearly. This type of activity helps children learn the parts of speech by using them to communicate more correctly and colorfully.
The larger a Montessori child’s vocabulary becomes, the more diverse and exciting the world will be. Words teach us where, what, when, why, and how things grow, work, and function. The universe is huge, and words are the tool we use to describe everything it contains.