Understanding vocabulary and terms can really help students analyze and make sense of math problems; however, it is often left out of instruction because we simply do not have time to include it in meaningful ways. During the month of April, I will share my favorite vocabulary activities with you and even introduce a couple of new ones.
Today’s activity is Vocabulary Swat It! This has been my and my class’ favorite way to review vocabulary for years! It’s a great way to review and reinforce important vocabulary and terms. It’s both engaging and fun and all of the students want to volunteer to be a swatter.
Check out a sample Swat-it! board below!
Here’s how to set it up:
1. Use an 8.5 inch x 11 inch size paper to program a 3 x 3 array with 9 vocabulary words.
2. Project the array onto your classroom whiteboard so that the students can reach all of the rectangles with a fly-swatter.
3. Ask for two volunteers to come to the front of the room and stand on the left and right side of the Swat-it! board.
4. Hand each student a fly-swatter.
5. Read a definition.
6. Students use the fly-swatter to swat the word that matches the definition.
7. The first student to swat the correct word is the winner.
