29 Bear Hunt
Emily Mahany
Strategy Overview
- Bear Hunt is an engaging way to get students moving around the classroom to discover their new vocabulary words. This activity encourages students to use vocabulary words in a sentence based on what they think theory means.
- This strategy is important because it helps to improve fluency when students are reading the new text. Familiarizing themselves with the words allows them to not stumble over them when they are seeing them again in the text.
- This can be used for each unit that has new vocabulary words.
- The bear hunt has been shown to help learners who learn better with a more hands on approach. “…activity requires students to physically move around the room, it can be especially engaging to kinesthetic learners.” (Facing History and Ourselves, 2017)
Strategy in Action
All students are given a piece of paper and a pencil. They search for the bears around the room that have a new vocabulary word attached to them. The first attempt with the word is what they think the word means. The second attempt with the word comes after we come back as a group, go over each vocabulary word and read the story corresponding with the words. Students then pick 7 out of 10 of their vocabulary words to write sentences, demonstrating that they understand the meaning of the word. This practices Vocabulary, Fluency and comprehension.
