Word of the Day Remix
At a Glance
- Time: 2-3 minutes
- Prep: Minimal (select word)
- Group: Individual then whole class
- Setting: Any classroom
- Subjects: Universal
- Energy: Medium
Purpose
Word of the Day Remix builds vocabulary and activates linguistic creativity by having students playfully explore academic or content-specific vocabulary before formal introduction.
How It Works
Step-by-step instructions:
- DISPLAY WORD (15 seconds) - Show today's key vocabulary word prominently
- GUESS AND USE (1.5 minutes) - Students guess meaning and write sentence using word
- SHARE (1 minute) - Students share creative sentences; reveal actual meaning
What to Say
Opening: "Today's word is [PHOTOSYNTHESIS]. Without looking it up, write a sentence using this word. Take a guess at what it might mean!"
During: "Be creative! Even if you're not sure, use context clues from the word itself to make a guess."
Closing: "Let's hear some sentences. I love the creativity! Here's what it actually means... Notice how close you were?"
Why It Works
This activity reduces vocabulary anxiety by making word learning playful. The creative license removes fear of being wrong, while attempting to use unknown words strengthens morphological awareness and semantic mapping.
Research Citation: Beck et al., 2013 (Bringing Words to Life)
Teacher Tip
Celebrate creative misuses as much as correct guesses. The goal is engagement with the word, not immediate accuracy.
Variations
For Different Subjects
- Math/Science: "Use 'coefficient' in a sentence about your life"
- Humanities: "Create a sentence with 'imperialism' based on word parts"
- Universal: "Draw a picture representing this word before we define it"
For Different Settings
- Large Class (30+): Students share sentences with elbow partner first, then volunteers share out
- Small Group (5-15): Everyone shares their sentence in quick round-robin
For Different Ages
- Elementary (K-5): Use simpler content words; allow pictures instead of sentences
- Middle/High School (6-12): Standard format; encourage humorous sentences
- College/Adult: Use discipline-specific jargon; add etymology challenge
Online Adaptation
Tools Needed: Chat, shared doc, or Padlet
Setup: Display word on screen
Instructions:
- Students type creative sentence in chat
- Read 3-4 aloud
- Reveal definition and celebrate close approximations
Pro Tip: Use Jamboard where students add sticky notes with sentences around the word.
Troubleshooting
Challenge: Student already knows the word Solution: "Great! Now create the most unusual sentence you can using this word correctly."
Challenge: Students completely stuck Solution: Offer stem: "This word sounds like it might have something to do with..."
Extension Ideas
- Deepen: "Now that you know the real meaning, revise your sentence"
- Connect: Keep a "Word of the Day Wall" and use words throughout the week
- Follow-up: Quiz next week: "Remember our word of the day? Use it correctly now."
Related Activities: Vocab Predictions, What's in a Name, Word Splash