“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
While students read, they often encounter unfamiliar vocabulary. It's helpful for them to engage with new words beyond a quick dictionary check in order to help them understand the context in which the word is used. In this activity, students demonstrate their understanding of several vocabulary words using a spider map. After choosing the word(s), students provide the part of speech, definition, an example from the text, and demonstrate their understanding of the word(s) through an illustration in the related storyboard cell.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in The Little Prince by creating a visual vocabulary board.
Grade Level 4-5
Difficulty Level 1 (Introducing / Reinforcing)
Type of Assignment Individual
Type of Activity: Visual Vocabulary Boards
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word 1 - Sentence | Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context. | The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context. | The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence. |
| Word 1 - Visualization | The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word. | The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand. | The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word. |
| Word 2 - Sentence | Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context. | The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context. | The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence. |
| Word 2 - Visualization | The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word. | The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand. | The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word. |
| Word 3 - Sentence | Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context. | The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context. | The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence. |
| Word 3 - Visualization | The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word. | The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand. | The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word. |
While students read, they often encounter unfamiliar vocabulary. It's helpful for them to engage with new words beyond a quick dictionary check in order to help them understand the context in which the word is used. In this activity, students demonstrate their understanding of several vocabulary words using a spider map. After choosing the word(s), students provide the part of speech, definition, an example from the text, and demonstrate their understanding of the word(s) through an illustration in the related storyboard cell.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary words in The Little Prince by creating a visual vocabulary board.
Grade Level 4-5
Difficulty Level 1 (Introducing / Reinforcing)
Type of Assignment Individual
Type of Activity: Visual Vocabulary Boards
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word 1 - Sentence | Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context. | The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context. | The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence. |
| Word 1 - Visualization | The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word. | The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand. | The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word. |
| Word 2 - Sentence | Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context. | The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context. | The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence. |
| Word 2 - Visualization | The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word. | The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand. | The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word. |
| Word 3 - Sentence | Vocabulary word is used correctly in the example sentence in both meaning and context. | The meaning of the sentence can be understood, but the vocabulary word is used awkwardly or in the wrong context. | The vocabulary word is not used correctly in the example sentence. |
| Word 3 - Visualization | The storyboard cell clearly illustrates the meaning of the vocabulary word. | The storyboard cell relates to the meaning of the vocabulary word, but is difficult to understand. | The storyboard cell does not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary word. |
Make learning engaging by introducing quick games like Vocabulary Bingo or Pictionary. These activities encourage students to recall and apply new words in fun, low-pressure ways, boosting retention and classroom participation.
Guide students to look for hints in surrounding sentences or illustrations. Model this by reading a passage aloud and thinking aloud about how context helps reveal a word’s meaning. This builds students’ independent reading skills.
Pair up students or form small groups to discuss each new word. Let them share their own definitions or sentences aloud, which fosters collaboration and deeper understanding through multiple perspectives.
Ask students to relate new words from The Little Prince to something in their own lives. This could mean sharing a story, drawing a quick picture, or explaining how the word connects to their world, making the vocabulary personally meaningful.
A visual vocabulary board for The Little Prince is an activity where students select key words from the story, define them, use them in a sentence, and create illustrations or find images that represent each word’s meaning, helping deepen understanding through both words and visuals.
Engage students by having them create spider maps or visual boards for new vocabulary, where they define each word, use it in a sentence, and draw or find images that show its meaning. This interactive approach makes learning memorable and enjoyable.
Some useful vocabulary words from The Little Prince for grades 4–5 include: extinct, baobabs, apparition, indulgence, dedicate, disheartened, digest, scarcely, distinguish, ponder, primeval, encounter, thunderstruck, extraordinary, and cumbersome.
Students should: 1) Choose three vocabulary words, 2) Find and write the definitions, 3) Use each word in a sentence, and 4) Illustrate the meaning through drawing or selecting images for each word.
Illustrating vocabulary helps reinforce understanding by connecting the meaning of new words with visual representations, making the words more memorable and supporting different learning styles.
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher