Content literacy is the ability to read, comprehend, discuss, and write about a text. This text could be any subject (science, social studies, etc.). It is important to teach students skills and strategies that help them read across multiple areas.
Recently, I taught a lesson using Flocabulary. Flocabulary is a website designed to teach students vocabulary through music. I used Flocabulary to teach a lesson on telling time to the hour and half hour. During this lesson, students engaged in the vocabulary, visual, and speaking and listening strands of content literacy.
I began the lesson by talking about how we use time time and having students share examples of when time is important with a partner (running a race, cooking something, etc.). We discussed what would happen if we didn’t think about time when doing these things. Together, we looked at a clock and discussed what students noticed about the clock. Then, I showed students the Flocabulary video. The video talked about a bee that is really busy and needs to be able to tell time. It introduced students to vocabulary like time to the hour, time to the half hour, etc. We watched the video a couple of times (there is a lot of content to take in at once). After watching the video, I showed students the vocabulary cards that go with the video. This provided students with a visual example of what the song was talking about. Following this activity, we looked at an anchor chart that would be hanging in the room throughout the unit. This anchor chart defined the vocabulary words and provided more visuals for the students. Students then turned to a partner and discussed the vocabulary we just learned. On the Flocabulary website, we took a quick quiz. This allowed me to see whether the students really understood the vocabulary or not. Finally, students were given a clock and we began practicing telling time to the hour and half hour. To finish the lesson, we watched the video one more time!
This activity was successful. The students loved Flocabulary! They didn’t even realize they were learning math vocabulary when listening the song. In following lessons, a lot of the students were able to use the vocabulary when practicing telling time. We had fun! Students were able to share with a partner, have visual aids to help them, and learn new vocabulary.
If I were to teach this lesson again, I would expose students to the song a few days before teaching the lesson. The song has a lot of words and is packed with vocabulary. Exposing students to this early would have allowed them to focus more on the vocabulary and not on the beat and funny bee in the video. Flocabulary also has a read and respond piece to each lesson. Next time, I would love to add this to the lesson. This would allow us to incorporate a literary element into math. It would be great for students to work in a small group to complete this activity. I loved using Flocabulary with my students and plan on using it again for other lessons!
Recently, I taught a lesson using Flocabulary. Flocabulary is a website designed to teach students vocabulary through music. I used Flocabulary to teach a lesson on telling time to the hour and half hour. During this lesson, students engaged in the vocabulary, visual, and speaking and listening strands of content literacy.
I began the lesson by talking about how we use time time and having students share examples of when time is important with a partner (running a race, cooking something, etc.). We discussed what would happen if we didn’t think about time when doing these things. Together, we looked at a clock and discussed what students noticed about the clock. Then, I showed students the Flocabulary video. The video talked about a bee that is really busy and needs to be able to tell time. It introduced students to vocabulary like time to the hour, time to the half hour, etc. We watched the video a couple of times (there is a lot of content to take in at once). After watching the video, I showed students the vocabulary cards that go with the video. This provided students with a visual example of what the song was talking about. Following this activity, we looked at an anchor chart that would be hanging in the room throughout the unit. This anchor chart defined the vocabulary words and provided more visuals for the students. Students then turned to a partner and discussed the vocabulary we just learned. On the Flocabulary website, we took a quick quiz. This allowed me to see whether the students really understood the vocabulary or not. Finally, students were given a clock and we began practicing telling time to the hour and half hour. To finish the lesson, we watched the video one more time!
This activity was successful. The students loved Flocabulary! They didn’t even realize they were learning math vocabulary when listening the song. In following lessons, a lot of the students were able to use the vocabulary when practicing telling time. We had fun! Students were able to share with a partner, have visual aids to help them, and learn new vocabulary.
If I were to teach this lesson again, I would expose students to the song a few days before teaching the lesson. The song has a lot of words and is packed with vocabulary. Exposing students to this early would have allowed them to focus more on the vocabulary and not on the beat and funny bee in the video. Flocabulary also has a read and respond piece to each lesson. Next time, I would love to add this to the lesson. This would allow us to incorporate a literary element into math. It would be great for students to work in a small group to complete this activity. I loved using Flocabulary with my students and plan on using it again for other lessons!