Whether you’re trying to eliminate tons of prep time, save paper, or support ELL students in distance learning, using digital vocabulary units can be extremely helpful activities for ELL newcomers. These digital units target reading, writing, and listening (audio) domains.
Included are 20 Thematic Vocabulary Units that cover important beginning vocabulary that are the building blocks for teaching English:
Tons of activities in each unit increase in difficulty from interactive flashcards with audio to actually writing sentences with the targeted vocabulary words.
1. POSTER:
Each poster introduces 9-22 words with visuals and audio for each unit. Introducing thematic vocabulary helps ELLs make connections between words, rather than teaching random vocabulary words at one time.
2. INTERACTIVE FLASHCARDS:
Students lift a picture to see AND hear the word for it underneath. They cover and uncover the word to practice beginning ESL vocabulary words as needed.
3. BEGINNING ESL DIGITAL PRACTICE PAGES:
These 5 pages (per unit) provide students supports to build up from simple matching to writing with the vocabulary words. They are great for independent practice.
DIGITAL PRACTICE PAGE #1 – MATCH UP:
Students drag and drop numbers to match vocabulary words to their pictures.
DIGITAL PRACTICE PAGE #2 – DRAG AND DROP:
Students drag and drop the picture that belongs under each word.
DIGITAL PRACTICE PAGE #3 – COLOR CODING:
Students follow the color and shapes chart at the top to drag a shape around a matching vocabulary word.
DIGITAL PRACTICE PAGE #4 – TYPE IT OUT:
Students practice typing each vocabulary word.
DIGITAL PRACTICE PAGE #5 – LET’S WRITE:
Students write basic sentences for each word. They follow an example that includes the sentence structure needed for their writing.
4. INTERACTIVE MINI READER:
These are simple books with repetitive sentence starters. Students drag and drop pictures or phrases into their mini reader. Students can re-read their books to build English fluency.
5. LISTENING COMPREHENSION CHECK:
Students play the audio for a word and then drag drop the matching picture next to its audio.
6. PHOTOGRAPH FREE-WRITES:
(3 or 4 per unit) Students have space to write vocabulary as they brainstorm for their free- writing. Then, they write about the photograph.
To the left of each photograph free-write is a chart with questions to think about, and sentence starters for each question. These are great for boosting writing confidence for this activity. However, you can feel free to delete them from some or all of the free- writes for more of a challenge.
7. WORD SEARCH:
Students find the words for pictures based on the picture only. Having the picture only requires them to try to remember how it is spelled.
Students use the provided ovals to stretch out as needed in order to circle the word for each picture.
ELL NEWCOMER DIGITAL PICTURE DICTIONARY:
A digital picture dictionary is also included for students to have access to all of the thematic vocabulary in one clear, organized space.
These Digital Beginning ESL Vocabulary Units for ELL Newcomers can be found in my TpT shop individually or in a 50% off bundle!
They can also be purchased with a printable version that includes even more beginning ESL vocabulary activities in each thematic unit.
