Purpose: To learn new vocabulary in a cooperative way. This activity can be used during a vocabulary lesson or to help students with unknown vocabulary in a reading text.

Preparation Time:  None

Materials:  Pencils and paper; list of vocabulary words to be taught if doing the activity as part of a vocabulary lesson

Procedure:

1)      Using the list or the reading text, students individually make lists of unknown words.

2)      Tell students that they will be learning the meaning of the words from each other during this activity.

3)      If necessary, teach students some phrases for asking the meaning of words. “What is the meaning of _______?” or “Do you know what _______ means?”

4)      During the activity, students should ask each other the meaning of the words on their list. When they find a student who knows one of the words, they should write down the meaning. Then if they feel confident, they can give the meaning if someone else asks about it. Give students a time limit for the activity.

5)      When time is up, find out which words students were able to learn from each other. Teach words that none of the students knew. If the words are from a reading text, you could have students try to work out the meaning from the context of the reading passage.