Word Splash

Purpose: Wordsplash generates interest on a topic, draws on students’ prior knowledge, and asks them to make predictions about how words are related to each other and to the topic. The activity increases comprehension because the students spend time anticipating what they will encounter in the reading material. Wordsplash allows the students to see that they already know something about the topic being studied. Students establish a framework for learning new information from the reading by a making personal connection to it.

Procedure:

  • After carefully reading the text, the teacher selects key words or important concepts from the article or text.Limit the number of words to no more than ten.
  • Prepare Wordsplash activity sheet in which the words appear randomly on the page.
  • Place students in groups or direct them to work individually to write a short paragraph that explains how the words and concepts work together.
  • After the students have finished writing, hold a brief discussion about their predictions.
  • Allow students to read the text to see if their predictions are accurate
  • Prompt the students to compare and contrast their paragraphs with the material in the reading.
  • Have students share their predictions and finding with the class.

Extension:

  • Ask the students to write a reflective paragraph about the process.
  • Provide visuals to aid in the understanding of vocabulary.
  • Add additional words to the Wordsplash activity and identify those words for the class.

Macceca, S.Reading Strategies for Social Studies.Huntington Beach, California:Shell Education, 2007

Wordsplash

Directions: After examining the words below, write a few sentences or a paragraph using the words.
Wordsplash Summary:

Wordsplash

Grades 3-5 Example

Directions: After examining the words below, write a few sentences or a paragraph using the words.
Migrant laborers
crops
factories / Great Depression
Low wages / Farm workers
Mexican Revolution / immigrants
Discrimination
Wordsplash Summary:
Many immigrants left Mexico and came to the U.S. after the Mexican Revolution.
They settled in California as migrant laborers who made their money as farm workers.
They worked the crops for low wages or they worked in factories, and they experienced
discrimination.
The Great Depression was really bad for farm workers and people who worked
in factories.