Detailed Vocabulary Building Plan for Grade III Students (Bilingual Approach)
Class/Grade: III (Age group: 8–9 years)
Subject: English
Focus: Vocabulary Building
Medium: Bilingual (English as the target language; Hindi for explanations, scaffolding, and building confidence)
Duration: Ongoing plan for one academic term (e.g., 4–5 months), with daily/weekly sessions of 20–30 minutes
Context: Suitable for Indian schools (CBSE/NCERT/State Boards) where English is a second language
Rationale: Young learners acquire vocabulary best through fun, repetitive, contextual activities. Bilingual support reduces anxiety and helps connect new English words to known Hindi concepts.
Overall Objectives
By the end of the term, students will be able to:
- Recognize and use 150–200 new English words in context.
- Understand word meanings with Hindi support and gradually use English independently.
- Build confidence in speaking and reading simple English sentences.
- Develop interest in words through games, stories, and visual aids.
Key Principles of the Bilingual Approach
- Start with Hindi explanations/translation for new words.
- Gradually reduce Hindi support (scaffolding) as students gain confidence.
- Use "sandwich technique": Hindi → English → Hindi repetition.
- Encourage mother tongue use initially, then shift to English.
- Focus on high-frequency, thematic words relevant to children's lives.
Thematic Units (Suggested 8–10 Themes for the Term)
Choose 1–2 themes per month. Each theme has 15–25 words.
- My Family (मेरा परिवार)
- Animals and Birds (जानवर और पक्षी)
- Colours and Shapes (रंग और आकार)
- Food and Fruits (खाना और फल)
- School and Classroom (स्कूल और कक्षा)
- Home and Rooms (घर और कमरे)
- Weather and Seasons (मौसम और ऋतुएँ)
- Transport (परिवहन)
- Actions/Verbs (क्रियाएँ)
- Festivals (त्योहार) – e.g., Diwali, Holi
Weekly Structure (5 Days a Week)
Daily Time: 20–30 minutes (integrated into English period or as a separate slot)
Day 1: Introduction of New Words (10–15 words per week)
- Use flashcards/pictures/real objects.
- Teacher says: Hindi meaning → English word → Class repeats English word chorally. Example: "सेब – Apple. Repeat: Apple!"
- Quick actions: Show picture → Students say word in Hindi first → Then English.
- Game: "What is this?" (Teacher shows picture, students respond in English with Hindi prompt if needed).
Day 2: Meaning and Pronunciation Practice
- Bilingual matching: Match English word cards to Hindi meaning cards or pictures.
- Pronunciation drill: Teacher models slow/clear pronunciation → Group → Individual.
- Sentence making with support: Teacher gives frame. Example: "This is a red ______." (यह लाल ______ है।) → Students fill: "apple".
- Song/Rhyme: Simple English rhymes with theme words (e.g., "Old MacDonald" for animals).
Day 3: Contextual Use and Games
- Story time: Read a short bilingual story (English main text, Hindi explanations for difficult words).
- Games (choose 1–2):
- Bingo: Words on cards, teacher calls Hindi meaning, students mark English word.
- Memory Game: Flip cards with picture + English word.
- Simon Says: Use action words (Jump, Run, Clap).
- Hot Potato: Pass ball, when music stops, say a word from the theme.
- Pair work: "Tell your friend 3 words you learned today" (first in Hindi, then English).
Day 4: Reading and Writing Practice
- Picture dictionary: Students draw/label 5–7 words in notebooks (English word + Hindi meaning + picture).
- Simple reading: Flashcards or big book with theme sentences. Example: "The cat is black. बिल्ली काली है।"
- Worksheet: Fill blanks, circle correct word, match picture to word (bilingual options).
Day 5: Review and Speaking Fun
- Revision quiz: Teacher says Hindi, students say/shout English (team game for points).
- Show and Tell: Students bring object/picture from home → Describe in 2–3 simple English sentences (teacher helps with Hindi prompts).
- Role play: Simple dialogues using theme words. Example (Animals): "I have a dog. It says woof woof!"
- Circle time: Each student says one favourite word and why (in mixed Hindi-English).
Materials Required
- Flashcards with pictures (English word on one side, Hindi on back)
- Real objects/toys for themes
- Picture books/bilingual storybooks
- Charts/posters for classroom display
- Worksheets (simple, colourful)
- Audio: Rhymes/songs on phone/speaker
- Notebook section: "My Word Book" (personal dictionary)
Assessment and Tracking
- Informal (Daily/Weekly):
- Observation: Participation in games, correct pronunciation, use in sentences.
- Word Wall: Add mastered words to class wall chart.
- Formal (Monthly):
- Oral test: Show 10 pictures → Student names in English (allow Hindi prompt initially).
- Written: Label pictures or simple dictation (10 words).
- Self-assessment: Students colour smiley faces: "I know these words well" (मुझे ये शब्द अच्छे से आते हैं).
- Progress Tracking: Maintain a class checklist – mark words as "Introduced / Practised / Mastered".
Differentiation
- Advanced students: Encourage longer sentences, spelling practice, create own stories.
- Struggling students: More visuals, pair with stronger peers, extra Hindi support, fewer words per week.
- Inclusive: Use actions/gestures for kinesthetic learners; songs for auditory.
Home Connection and Motivation
- Homework (2–3 times/week):
- Find 3 theme objects at home → Tell family in English → Draw/label.
- Word hunt: Find theme words in environment (e.g., colours at home).
- Parent note (bilingual): Explain activity and ask parents to practise words in English at home.
- Rewards: Stickers for active participation, "Word Wizard" badge for mastering weekly words.
Sample Weekly Word List (Theme: Colours and Shapes)
- Red (लाल)
- Blue (नीला)
- Green (हरा)
- Yellow (पीला)
- Circle (गोल)
- Square (चौकोर)
- Triangle (त्रिकोण)
- Rectangle (आयत)
- Big (बड़ा)
- Small (छोटा)
This plan is flexible and play-based to keep Grade III students engaged. Regular review (every 2 weeks) of previous themes ensures retention. Over the term, students will build a strong foundation in English vocabulary while feeling supported in their mother tongue!