Sign In
Sign In
Register for Free
PrimaryEnglish

Vocabulary worksheets – KS1/2 activity pack

What's included?

Seven vocabulary resource sheets

Key Stage

KS1, KS2

Age

Years 1-6

Subjects

Helping children to develop a rich vocabulary is one of the best ways we can support their education. In this download, you’ll find a number of vocabulary worksheets to download and use in your classroom…

Most of children’s language development and vocabulary growth will come from organic sources. This is opposed to direct teaching. They pick it up from the conversations they have with their families and their peers, and with adults at school. They also learn it through the books they read and those that are read to them.

That doesn’t mean, however, there aren’t some ways we can help children to learn new words directly. Here are seven approaches to building children’s vocabulary in the classroom, with accompanying vocabulary worksheets.

Vocabulary worksheets

1) Display fascinating words

This wordarium worksheet enables children to jot down a new word and exhibit it in a motivating way.

2) Create word webs

This example word web and template will help children keep track of new words they learn around the same topic.

3) Explore morphology

Use this worksheet to introduce some common morphemes and encourage children to find some of their own.

4) Collect words from reading

This bookmark is a space for children to collect words as they read, then share them in class.

5) Choose the words to teach carefully

This template helps children to think about the words you have chosen to teach them regarding a specific topic such as the Romans or electrical circuits.

6) Explore idioms

This worksheet gives children the chance to think about idioms.

7) Explore different vocabularies

Pupils can use the spaces on this worksheet to share some of the words and phrases from their special areas of knowledge that others might not know.


Vocabulary development

Vocabulary development is suddenly a hot topic in education, yet schools have long recognised the relationship between language development and children’s academic success.

Teachers in particular are attuned to the importance of helping children develop both the ability to understand spoken and written language, acquiring a control of language that enables them to express their ideas and feelings clearly.

One key aspect of a child’s language development is the growth of their vocabulary – the words they can understand and the words they use to communicate.

Not surprisingly, educational research suggests a strong relationship between vocabulary and comprehension, where a broad vocabulary (knowing lots of words) and a deep vocabulary (knowing those words well) correlates with better understanding.

When children write, a wider vocabulary gives them a rich palette with which to express their ideas, choosing a word to communicate with elegance and precision.

Of course, vocabulary is just one aspect of the broad area of language development. Control of language depends on the words, but also on understanding how to employ the words, matching the purpose and audience to an appropriate grammar and syntax.

If we want children to become as skilled as they can as communicators, it will take more than just learning lots of words. But helping to grow their vocabulary isn’t a bad place to start.

James Clements is an education researcher and writer. Follow James on Twitter at @MrJClements.

DOWNLOAD A FREE RESOURCE!
Vocabulary worksheets – KS1/2 activity pack
PrimaryEnglish

You'll also receive regular updates from Teachwire with free lesson plans, great new teaching ideas, offers and more. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Which sectors are you interested in?

By signing up you agree to our Terms & Conditions and privacy policy

Explore teaching packs

Pie Corbett Ultimate KS2 Fiction Collection
Pie Corbett Ultimate KS2 Fiction Collection
Fire up KS2 pupils' imagination with this collection of 20+ fictional stories, written by literacy expert Pie Corbett. Each ... more
20 x resources
Pie Corbett KS2 Non-Fiction Collection
Use Pie Corbett’s non-fiction texts to inspire your KS2 pupils to get writing. Each resource contains an original text in ... more
6 x resources
Pie Corbett KS2 Poetry Collection
Inspire KS2 pupils to be creative and express themselves with this pack of Pie Corbett poetry. Each of these Pie Corbett Tal... more
7 x resources
WAGOLL classroom resources
WAGOLL Packs from Real Authors
Peer inside the mind of award-winning children's authors and help pupils understand how to create engaging characters, capti... more
7 x resources
Art KS2 inspiring medium term plans
Art KS2 Inspiring Medium Term Plans
Get pupils' creative juices flowing with these expert medium-term art plans for KS2. Each resource consists of a full half-t... more
6 x resources
Magical Harry Potter Teaching Ideas
Magical Harry Potter Teaching Ideas
Spark pupils' imaginations with these inventive and exciting teaching ideas, all themed around the wonderful world of Harry ... more
11 x resources