Why is Vocabulary so Important in Social Studies?

Social Studies is a great subject in that it can also be a vessel for reading and writing. But, many people dislike social studies because of the memorization of vocabulary that is involved in it. However, by teaching and reteaching vocabulary, it gives students a chance to activate prior knowledge before a lesson, make connections with word meanings so that texts are easier to understand, and identify misconceptions that a student may have on a topic.

However, students do not need to learn vocabulary through simple memorization. There are multiple activities that a teacher can do within the classroom to make learning vocabulary more interesting and interactive.

1. Create a Word Map:

Word maps are graphic organizers that can help students learn vocabulary words in connection to subjects. Students can think about vocabulary in different ways, such as the definition, synonyms, antonyms, and subject connections.

2. Music for Memorization:

Students will always be able to remember a catchy tune, so utilizing technology and music to teach students vocabulary is great for our 21st century learners. Students will be able to remember vocabulary if it is sung in a song, and it is great if this song has a funny or interesting video to go with it. This is a great way to teach elementary students vocabulary. A few different programs such as Schoolhouse Rock and Flocabulary have premade music videos that connect to many different academic subjects.

3. Personalized Lists:

Student choice is always important in the classroom, so allowing students to choose what vocabulary terms go on a personalized list that they create. Different students will remember different vocabulary terms, so having each student have a list makes them in charge of their own learning. When students come across new words in readings and discussions, they can write down the word and then look it up later either during independent class time or as a homework assignment. The teacher can make a minimum limit on what words the student can include on their list to ensure that every student is using their personalized list.