Vocabulary refers to the knowledge of words. This includes their structure, use, meanings, and relationships with other words. More often than not, vocabulary lessons are found in Language Arts classes. But have you ever thought about teaching vocabulary as part of your U.S. History instruction?
To help you get started, I have created a U.S. History Vocabulary list with key terms for several U.S. History topics. I have also gathered my favorite tips and resources for teaching U.S. History vocabulary. I want to save you time so you can get back to doing what you love – teaching!
Why Teach U.S. History Vocabulary?
Vocabulary is the key that unlocks understanding. If students don’t know certain words, there are some concepts they will not understand.
For example, imagine you are teaching a lesson about the precedents set by George Washington’s presidency. If your students do not have a solid understanding of the word precedent, most of your discussion will go right over their heads! Sure, students can use context clues and pull together a meaning. But without being explicitly taught the vocabulary word, they will not be able to grasp the full meaning of the word – with all of its nuances and deeper implications.
In this blog post, Lauren Brown illustrates the power of vocabulary. She said:
Students often whine about vocabulary tests. They just don’t see the point of memorizing a bunch of words that, to them, just mean the same thing as other words they already know. “Why do we need to know squalid,” they ask. “Can’t we just say dirty?”
But the [immigrant] tenements weren’t just dirty. They were, according to one definition of squalid, “extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect.” This seven-letter word speaks volumes about the conditions of the urban poor at the turn of the century in a way that “dirty” or “really bad” just doesn’t convey.
According to Brown, “vocabulary is a tool of thought.” As such, student thought is simplistic if they do not have a rich vocabulary. When students develop a more complex vocabulary, they are able to have more complex thoughts. And more complex thinking leads to greater overall school success!
Tips for Teaching U.S. History Key Terms
To develop a wide vocabulary, students need both direct and indirect instruction. In addition, it is important for students to be exposed to the words multiple times. As vocab words are studied repeatedly and in a variety of meaningful contexts, student understanding will increase.
Here are some of my favorite ways to teach vocabulary:
- Teach the meaning of each word using Marzano’s six-step approach. This process includes the following steps:
-
- Explain: Provide a description, explanation, or example of the new term.
- Restate: Students restate the description, explanation, or example in their own words.
- Show: Students construct a picture, pictograph, symbolic representation, or act out the term.
- Engage: Engage students in activities that help them add to their knowledge of the terms.
- Discuss: Periodically ask students to discuss the terms with one another.
- Play: Involve students in games that enable them to play with the terms and reinforce word knowledge.
*This blog post describes some excellent websites and apps that can help you in this six-step process.
- Involve students in creating a 13 Colonies word wall.
- As each key term is taught, students add meaningful illustrations and definitions to the wall. Ensure each student has a copy of the word wall they can reference. You can do this in a vocabulary notebook!
- It is important to teach students the explicit meaning, examples, and context in which historical terms are used. The Frayer Model is a graphic organizer that allows students to identify and define historical terms.
- In this graphic organizer, students write:
- the selected term
- characteristics of the term
- examples of the term
- non-examples of the term
- and a definition for the term in their own words
- Then, students check the meaning of the term with the dictionary definition.
- In this graphic organizer, students write:
Click here to access a free Google Slides version of the Frayer Model graphic organizer!
- Play games with the words. Playing games with vocabulary terms will help students understand and internalize word meanings in a fun and non-threatening environment. For example:
- Memory: The goal of this game is to match the vocabulary term with the correct definition.
- First, create your memory cards. Do this by writing the vocabulary terms and corresponding definitions on separate cards (ex: if you have 15 vocabulary words, you should have 30 memory cards).
- Next, lay out all of the memory cards face-down so students cannot see the words/definitions.
- Then, students take turns flipping over two cards, one at a time. After each card is turned over, the student says the vocabulary word/definition aloud. If the definition matches the word, the student keeps the pair! The student with the most pairs “wins.”
- Hint: Extend this activity even further by having your students make their own memory cards!
- Memory: The goal of this game is to match the vocabulary term with the correct definition.
- Jeopardy:
- Create your jeopardy template. There are several free jeopardy templates online that can be used with PowerPoint or Google Slides.
- When creating your questions, keep in mind how you want your students to respond. You can either have students read the definition and think of the correct vocabulary term or read the vocabulary word and come up with the correct definition. You can even do a mixture of both!
- Divide students into 3-5 teams.
- The teams take turns choosing a topic category and a question in that category. Each category is associated with a different point amount (50, 100, 150, 200, etc.).
- Give teams one minute to answer the selected question correctly. Teammates collaborate together to come up with the answer. If the answer is correct, the team earns the points! If the answer is incorrect, the question stays up on the board.
- After the answer is given, it is the next team’s turn.
- The game continues until each question has been chosen and correctly answered. The team with the most points wins!
- Create your jeopardy template. There are several free jeopardy templates online that can be used with PowerPoint or Google Slides.
- Charades: In this game, students “act out” the vocabulary word without speaking, while the other members of their team try to guess what the vocabulary word is.
- Create a Skit: Split up your class into groups of two or three. Give each group one vocabulary word and 5-10 minutes to create a skit that illustrates that vocabulary word. Allow students access to readily available props like paper, desks, chairs, whiteboards, books, etc. Then, students have one minute to present their skit to the class. To make this even more challenging, don’t allow students to talk during their skits!
- Guess My Word: First, write each vocabulary word on a sticky note. Next, place one sticky note on each student’s forehead (or back). Then, students ask questions to determine what word is written on their sticky notes.
- This can be done in several different ways! For example, students can do this in small groups, or you can have one student come up in front of the class.
- Students guessing must ask YES or NO questions. Ex: Am I a verb? Am I a noun? Do I have a prefix? Would I come after BIRD in the dictionary?
- Optional: students guessing can access the list of vocabulary words.
U.S. History Vocabulary for Kids
Sifting through history lessons to find meaningful vocabulary terms can be time-consuming. To help get you started, I have created U.S. History vocabulary lists – complete with definitions and teaching suggestions!
- Age of Exploration Vocabulary
- 13 Colonies Vocabulary
- Declaration of Independence Vocabulary
- Revolutionary War Vocabulary
- U.S. Constitution Vocabulary
- The Early Republic Vocabulary
- Westward Expansion Vocabulary
- Civil War Vocabulary
More U.S. History Resources
I hope these U.S. History vocabulary lists have given you some helpful ideas for integrating vocabulary instruction into your history lessons!
Are you looking for more resources to help you teach U.S. History? As a former 5th grade teacher, I understand how precious your planning time is. And with all the expectations placed upon teachers these days, it can feel like there is no time to plan and prep for history lessons!
I want to make your life easier and help you (and your students!) fall back in love with history! That’s why I have created interactive units with high-quality content and engaging lessons plans and activities. With everything you need to just print and go, your lesson prep is simple, so your teaching can be enjoyable!
Declaration of Independence: 3 Week Unit | 5th Grade – 8th Grade
Early Republic Unit (A New Nation): 3 Weeks | 5th Grade – 8th Grade
Leave a Reply