Wonderful Ways to Work With Wordle
Wordle is an online resource that allows users to generate “word clouds” from any text that the user submits. These clouds can be altered with different fonts, color schemes and layouts to create a variety of different artistic pictures comprised solely of words. Additionally, words that are repeated receive more prominence in the clouds. The resulting images range from curious to beautiful and can be used as art for your wall or an educational lesson.
Described as a “toy” on the Wordle Website, the online tool can be used for more than just fun, as there are a number of great ways to use Wordle in your classroom. The possibilities are truly endless, and to get you started here are eight ways to incorporate Wordle into your lesson plans.
1. Learn to Spell: Keep a list of all of the words that your students misspell, or mention that they have trouble spelling. Each week, or month, collect the words and punch them into Wordle. Create art for your classroom and post the Spelling Wordle. If a student misspells a word that is already on the Wordle, give it more prominence in the artwork for next week. You can look at past Spelling Wordles to see if the students are improving.
2 . Vocabulary Words: As students read a new book for language arts, have them write down every word that they didn’t recognize along the way. Then, create a Wordle design with the new words. Next, have the students look up each word they didn’t know in the dictionary, and write down the definition. Now create a Wordle with just the definitions.
3. Individual Worldes: It’s not always easy for students to describe themselves, and sometimes they are shy about defining themselves in front of the other students. Have each students pick 10-20 words that they think describe them or their interests, and then create a Wordle to post on a bulletin board. You can have students discuss what they created, or you can just post the artwork for everyone to see and interpret on their own. You can also post the Wordles without names, and have students guess which Wordle describes which student.
4. Guess the Book: Teachers can use characters and themes from books to create Wordle art, and then students can guess which book the Wordle is referring to. Teachers can make this into a pop quiz, or simply a fun exercise.
5. Make speeches fun: It’s no surprise that students tend to space out when listening to an excerpt from a famous speech. There are probably times when techaers have trouble focusing! To remedy this, one solution is to try using a CCC! video clip to spice up the delivery for the speech. There is something to be said for the power that comes from hearing the speech delivered by an original speaker, or at least a historical reenactment. Some CCC! suggestions are:
Program ID# 24171: Franklin D. Roosevelt “Fear Itself” and “Rendezvous With Destiny”
Program ID# 90083: Martin Luther King “I have a Dream”
Program ID# 52161: Abraham Lincoln “The Gettysburg Address”
After the students have finished watching the speech, hand out a written document of what they just heard. Have the students pick the words and points that they think are the most important, and then write them down. Plug the words that they’ve jotted down into Wordle, and suggest repeating the key words a few times to give them more prominence.
Once the Wordle presentations are complete, have the students show the class what they have created. A discussion can ensue as to why specific words were picked for each presentation. Did everyone agree, or were there different interpretations?
6. Character Descriptions: After reading a new book, have students pick their favorite character and list 10 things that describe the character. Students create a Wordle piece with the words that were used, and then other students can guess which character the artist has chosen.
7. Writing Poetry or Stories: Have students pick their favorite 10 words, or, have everyone pick 10 words out of a hat filled with interesting and/or obscure words that you have written on slips of paper. Have your students create a Wordle with the chosen words, and then write a story or poem that keeps the words in the order that they are displayed on Wordle.
8. Foreign Language Exercises: Create a Wordle using words in English, and the same word translated into whatever language that you are studying. Students must then match the translation to the English Word by drawing an arrow. The added lines will make the beautiful Worlde into a new artistic piece!
These are just a few of the many ways that Wordle can be incorporated into your classroom. Just like Wordle designs, the possibilities for learning with Wordle are seemingly endless. Let us know ways that you’ve used Wordle in your classroom!
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