WordSmith Illustrated Learner's Dictionary
📝 Resource description
It is a free, online interactive Picture Dictionary that presents vocabulary with engaging images that allows students to explore English words in context.
It is very easy to navigate through the web. The words are grouped into themes and categories, so it is easier to find the vocabulary.
🔗 Link to the website: https://kids.wordsmyth.net/wild/app/#/home
At the top menu there are four sections:
1. Picture Dictionary: this is the main section where students can explore individual words in alphabetical order. Each word is displayed by an image and audio pronunciation.
2. World: it includes global topics in context, such as nature (animals of the desert, jungle...) and city (school, restaurant...). Students can explore vocabulary and connect words to the real world.
3. Collections: it provides several topics like animals, art and music, food... so students can search any word to support a deeper comprehension of an isolated concept.
4. Book: this section collects and organizes all the words from the dictionary. Students can see the word with an image, their definition, listen to the pronunciation, and an example sentence.
✅ Purpose
This resource is very useful in class to support vocabulary acquisition through visual and interactive learning. So, it helps students to:
- Remember words with a long-term retention.
- Improve comprehension and word recognition.
- Explore the language independently and become more confident.
🙋🏻♀️ How can we use this resource in classroom?
1. Project the online Picture Dictionary on the smart board and select one theme (e.g., animals).
2. Break your class into pairs or small groups. One student chooses a picture and says the word aloud. The partner repeats it and creates a simple sentence.
3. Then, they can create thematic posters with the words and sentences they make and display them on the classroom walls.
