Magnet+Words


 * Summary and Rationale **

The //Magnet Words// strategies (Lenski et. al, 2011: 67) has two primary aims: to create and deepen understandings of key vocabulary words for a given unit or lesson and to develop conceptual connections between vocabulary words. By working in groups to categorize terms, students have the opportunity to work collaboratively to improve knowledge of vocabulary and conceptual understanding.

__Directions__:
 * 1) **Introduce:** Introduce the concept of "magnets" to help students understand the process of grouping words.
 * 2) **Identify:** Have students identify key terms from the selected text.
 * 3) **Record:** Write students' magnet words on the board.
 * 4) **Categorize:** Distribute four note cards to each students and have students write one of their magnet words per card. Ask students to pick out other terms or details within the selection that are related to the magnet words.
 * 5) **Write:** Pick out one group of magnet words to model. In front of the class, write a paragraph using the magnet words together to explain a related concept. Afterwards, place students into groups of mixed ability to collaboratively write a paragraph based on one of the magnet words.


 * Example**

From the text, //History Alive! Pursuing American Ideals//, students may be asked to pick identify magnet words from Chapter 2 (//Defining and Debating America's Founding Ideals//). The relatively short chapter is divided up into subsections, each focusing on a different "ideal". Therefore, this text lends itself well to this activity as it focuses particularly on a few key ideas. Here is an example of magnet words students may develop, and the details they may subsequently fill in:
 * 1) **Equality:** treatment, classes, wealth, power
 * 2) **Rights:** self-evident, powers, privileges, entitled
 * 3) **Liberty:** freedom, protection, slavery, speech
 * 4) **Opportunity:** chance, pursue, master, land

After completing word groupings, students will be asked to develop a paragraph including all these words in a meaningful way. Here is an example:


 * //__Equality__ was a founding principle of the new republic. Jefferson wrote his belief that "all men are created equal." He contended that regardless of the hierarchy of social __classes__, all "freemen" should receive equal __treatment__ by law. At the time of writing, and even today, the notion of equality stands in opposition to the divisions between the __wealthy__ and the poor, those with and those without __power__. Despite the inclusion of "equality" in the Declaration of Independence, slaves were not to be regarded as citizens for around a century to come, and inequality of wealth and power persists.//