An article in Reading Teacher a few years back (2004, pp. 766-768) presented the idea of creating 'Literacy Mystery Boxes.' The idea is to put together a box with various items that represent concepts in a book that the teacher is going to read to the students, thereby building background knowledge and increasing students' suspense and interest in the upcoming book. It's a wonderful idea and I encourage you to read the article so you can use this idea with your students - along with the additional suggestions given by the authors.

However, for this article let's use this concept but apply it to vocabulary development. I want you to consider creating "Vocabulary Mystery Boxes." Here's an example:

Choose a concept, such as, "texture."
Find and put items into the vocabulary mystery box that will elicit words that are related to the concept of "texture." For example, you could be choosing items that would help students learn the words (which are only labels for concepts) such as: smooth, sticky, corrugated, rough, silky (and myriad other words!) Just find items that the students can touch and begin developing the various concepts.
Bring the box out - as something very special. If you are a teacher, then I know you have some dramatic flair. This is the time to use that flair! You can get everyone more engaged when you do so and are more likely to get broader participation and more risk-taking from the students. You want to have them generated as many descriptive words as possible which you can then use to build everyone's understanding of the concept 'texture.'
Using this example, you can choose any number of other concepts - both ones with concrete representations, such as 'texture' but also abstract concepts such as 'sorrow,' 'joy,' 'forever,' and so forth. Be creative, which I know you are!!

Vocabulary mystery boxes work well for the following groups of students:

young students,
students who are English Language Learners,
older students who are learning brand new concepts in science, social studies, mathematics, or art, and
students in foreign language classes who might be learning words for concepts they already know--but who need some additional physical items to assist in their learning.
Do you notice how these takes in the majority of learners...That's because it can be modified in so many ways. There is no limit to what you can create in the way of a Vocabulary Mystery Box. Plus, it's also fabulous when you have your students create their own. Think of the learning and active engagement!

Questions for you...

When will you create your first vocabulary mystery box?
What is a concept you are currently working on with your students--and that they may be having a little trouble learning?
Would a vocabulary mystery box (or some other container) help?
Do you have parents or other volunteers who could create vocabulary mystery boxes for you? Just ask! They'll enjoy it (it's much more fun than cutting things out of lamination!)
Have a great time yourself watch your students' content/vocabulary knowledge soar as they start owning more words.

And to access scores of free resources that you can use to support the vocabulary learning in your classroom, including PowerPoints, PDFs, and Word documents, just go to

** http://www.OwningWordsforLiteracy.com - and you can click on the Downloads tab.

To get numerous articles with teaching tips (for free), just go to

http://www.ArticlesforTeachers.com and see what's there for you to use in your classroom.

(c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"(tm). Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do. Sound interesting? It is!