Science Vocabulary Ideas: Get Creative with Acrostics

Academic language in science is a must!  Acrostics are an excellent tool for students to practice their new science vocabulary.  {Scroll down to sign up for your Sun, Earth, and Moon Acrostic Freebie.} This versatile strategy can be used in many ways:

• whole class activity (great for introducing the strategy)
• partner activity
• bulletin board idea
• Interactive Science Notebook output choice
• station
• end of unit assessment option

How can you introduce the Acrostic strategy?

1. Determine the topic or word you would like for students to use.
2. Make a list of ideas for each letter.  I like to have this on hand before the activity so I don’t get stumped and can offer recommendations to students.  I usually provide the list the first couple of times we do the activity, especially in my remediation groups.  They can choose from it or not.
3. Make a short collaborative list of important ideas and vocabulary to emphasize within the Acrostic.
4. Model and “think aloud” for a small vocabulary term students are familiar with.  Make sure students know that phrases are preferred.  There shouldn’t be just one single word for a letter.  They don’t need to use complete sentences, but it’s okay if they do.
5. Provide a related vocabulary term for students to work on in partners.  Offer suggestions as needed.
6. Have students share their acrostics whole class or through a gallery walk.  Celebrate the variety of ideas that partners came up with!

After you’ve introduced the Acrostic strategy, try:

• The class comes up with a list of letter ideas before beginning the activity.
• Students select from a list of terms for the unit for their Acrostic word.
• The class makes a list of important ideas and vocabulary to emphasize within the Acrostic.

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