Word Explosions
industrial
• What
does
it
do?
erosion
• Introduces new vocabulary;
• Develops vocabulary relevant to the theme/topic of the
key word;
• Revises and embeds
key grammar understanding;
diode
• Develops and consolidates understanding
of concepts
philosophy
and topics – good for revision as well as new content.
Relevant to…
• Any subject that uses words.
Particularly relevant to…
• Subjects
that use subject-specific vocabulary;
adrenalin
ghostly
• Subjects that use words for expression/to create
meaning (English, Media, Drama).
What does it mean?
Word class/function?
Antonyms (words that
mean the opposite):
Other words in this class:
Picture:
Where have you heard
it?
When would you use it?
industrial
Starting sound:
Rhymes with:
Links to other
languages?
Syllables:
Use it in a sentence:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
What does it mean?
Lots of industry,
machines, factories,
smoke and stuff being
produced but not by
humans.
Word class/function?
Adjective
Other words in this class:
Smoky, noisy, metallic
Antonyms (words that
mean the opposite):
Pastoral, hand-made
Picture:
Where have you heard it?
Industrial revolution – History
lessons
Industry professional –
television
Industrialised nations –
Geography lessons
When would you use it?
History and Geography
lessons, talking about
certain materials in DT,
when talking about the
gothic in English
industrial
Starting sound:
‘i’ – short ‘i’
sound like chips
Syllables:
4
Rhymes with:
Links to other
languages?
FR: industralisé
SP: same word!
Turkish: sanayie
ait, sinai,
endüstriyel
Use it in a sentence:
Many people moved from pastoral areas of England to the smoky, noisy and overcrowded
cities during the Industrial Revolution to work in factories with heavy machinery.
What does it mean?
Literal Meaning
Medium ability
EAL-helpful
Word class/function?
Other words in this class:
Antonyms (words that mean the opposite):
EAL, MA
Grammar revision
‘Themed’ vocabulary
builder
Where have you heard it?
Literal AND figurative
meaning
Context embedding
Higher ability
When would you use it?
Literal AND figurative
meaning
HA, CE
industrial
Starting sound:
Syllables:
LM, MA, EAL, TVB, GR
Picture:
Literal AND figurative
meaning
Medium and High Ability
EAL
Creative stimulus
Rhymes with:
All low ability, phonics and
low literacy strategies
Links to other
languages?
EAL, MFL links
High ability
Use it in a sentence:
CE, TVB, Literal AND figurative meaning, SPAG checker, Lead into extended task
Word Explosions
Grouping and Differentiation:
Why is it so great?
1. Differentiated groupings using colour
• Self-differentiating;
coded boxes to differentiate according
• Highly compatible with student-lead group work;
to cognitive or language ability;
• Simple activity that ‘explodes’ outwards to
2. High and medium ability groupings to
developed and sophisticated understanding (if used
extend each other in blue/red boxes
correctly);
with lower ability groups supported by
• Leads onto extended
activities
that showboxes;
clear
TA focusing
on green/blue
linking in lesson sequences.
3. Group according to ability: more
challenging words for more able
groups.
Extended Activity Options
• Creative writing tasks using the key word and other
words and ideas that have been generated;
• Essay writing tasks using specific terminology and
academic language correctly;
• Drama and role play explaining concepts (historical,
scientific etc.) using consolidated understanding of
key words;
• Artistic interpretations of the ideas and meaning
communicated in key words;
• Posters and display items explaining key terms,
contextually embedded.