3 X 3 Vocabulary

Purpose:  To promote the development of complete sentences as well as the identification of relationships between concepts

Description: In this activity, students will take related words, ideas, and concepts and combine them together in sentences. The sentences should illustrate the relationship among the words, ideas, and concepts. This can be used as a form of alternative assessment as well as a cognitive teaching strategy.

Procedure:

  1. Pass out a 3x3 Vocabulary sheet to each student.
  2. The sheet can be filled out in one of two ways: (1) Assign specific words to their blocks, or (2) allow students to choose from a word list, placing words in the blocks they choose.
  3. Once the sheet is filled out, students should write six sentences which illustrate the relationships between the words in column 1 down, 2 down, 3 down, and rows 1 across, 2 across, and 3 across.

Variation: Spence Rogers uses a variation of the 3x3 Vocabulary activity. In his activity, Mix and Match, related word, ideas, and concepts are written on individual index cards. All cards are put into a basket. In round robin fashion, cards are drawn two at a time. The student then must generate a sentence using those two words which describes their relationship to each other.

Sample 3 x 3 Vocabulary

3 x 3 Vocabulary Activity Sheet 

from Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners
Guilford County Schools TF, 2002

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