What is a Word Cloud?
Word clouds are created based on the frequency of words in a text. In order to create a word cloud, a template can be created using Wordle (Jonathan Feinburg; www.wordle.net) or www.wordsift.com, which are free websites. Teachers can select a passage from a text students have read and copy and paste it into the text box on the Wordle site. The background color, layout, and font can be edited. Word clouds enable students to see key words, create headings, and provide prompts for discussion (Echevarria, Vogt, Short, 2014). The more the word is used in the text, the larger it appears in the word cloud. Students integrate both visual and verbal information while integrating the use of technology as they create their own designs. Wordle provides support in a variety of different languages, which is especially helpful for students who are English Language Learners. Word clouds or wordles can include key vocabulary words from a unit or theme and can be displayed in the classroom. Word clouds can also be used in introducing new stories or for making predictions. Using Wordles to make predictions is especially useful for students who are ELLs because it allows students to create their own predictions about particular content or discuss unknown words prior to reading.
Word clouds are created based on the frequency of words in a text. In order to create a word cloud, a template can be created using Wordle (Jonathan Feinburg; www.wordle.net) or www.wordsift.com, which are free websites. Teachers can select a passage from a text students have read and copy and paste it into the text box on the Wordle site. The background color, layout, and font can be edited. Word clouds enable students to see key words, create headings, and provide prompts for discussion (Echevarria, Vogt, Short, 2014). The more the word is used in the text, the larger it appears in the word cloud. Students integrate both visual and verbal information while integrating the use of technology as they create their own designs. Wordle provides support in a variety of different languages, which is especially helpful for students who are English Language Learners. Word clouds or wordles can include key vocabulary words from a unit or theme and can be displayed in the classroom. Word clouds can also be used in introducing new stories or for making predictions. Using Wordles to make predictions is especially useful for students who are ELLs because it allows students to create their own predictions about particular content or discuss unknown words prior to reading.
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Visual Representations
This image is an example of a word cloud for Little Red Riding Hood. This could be used to get students excited about a new story or for making predictions about a text they are about to read. After students read a text, the assessment given could be to create a Wordle based on the main idea and details or theme. |
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This video demonstrates a way to incorporate a Wordle in determining the main ideas and details of a paragraph. Students create a graphic organizer for a paragraph that incorporates a main idea, details, explanations of the details, and a wrap-up. This graphic organizer is used to create a Wordle. Students can then see the main ideas in large text and details in small text and visually differentiate between each idea.
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This image shows a Wordle created for I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr. This could give students a visual representation of the main ideas presented in the famous speech. This could be used as an alternative to reading the full speech and would support comprehension.
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Content Area Examples
Reading- Word clouds can be integrated in reading in order to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and writing. Students can create a Wordle that includes new or unknown words to improve vocabulary, or look at the largest words in the word cloud to better understand the main idea and smaller words to analyze the details. This would improve overall comprehension, which is especially important for students who are ELLs. Those who are ELL would also benefit from using word clouds to make predictions. When it comes to writing, Wordles can be used as a self-assessment tool. Students can plug their writing into a word cloud site and see whether their intended main ideas came across as important, or incorporate new words for those that are often repeated throughout their writing.
Math- A way to adapt the use of word clouds for math is to create a Wordle that introduces lesson vocabulary. Before starting a new math lesson, a word cloud can be displayed as students identify and discuss both familiar and unfamiliar words related to a particular concept. This activates students’ prior knowledge and also serves as a formative assessment, because it gives insight as to what students already know and still need to learn. Students who are ELLs benefit from discussing targeted vocabulary as well as background knowledge, because it builds confidence. Students can also create their own word cloud during math as a review for previously taught content. After a math lesson, students can create a Wordle as a class by brainstorming words that describe what was learned.
Social Studies- The word cloud strategy could easily be adapted in social studies when introducing new content or discussing famous speeches, such as I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr. Rather than reading the entire speech, students can see a visual of the main ideas presented. Students who are ELLs can better comprehend the main ideas of speeches by focusing on key words and phrases that are easier to read. Wordles could be made using the U.S. Constitution, the thirteen original colonies, U.S. presidents, and more.
Science- Word clouds could be adapted for use in science when introducing new content such as planets, the sun, stars, properties of matter, and more. Similar to other content areas, Wordles can be used to activate students’ prior knowledge about particular science content or to review previously covered material. Students can work together to brainstorm and put together their own word cloud to illustrate what they already know or what they learned.
Reading- Word clouds can be integrated in reading in order to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and writing. Students can create a Wordle that includes new or unknown words to improve vocabulary, or look at the largest words in the word cloud to better understand the main idea and smaller words to analyze the details. This would improve overall comprehension, which is especially important for students who are ELLs. Those who are ELL would also benefit from using word clouds to make predictions. When it comes to writing, Wordles can be used as a self-assessment tool. Students can plug their writing into a word cloud site and see whether their intended main ideas came across as important, or incorporate new words for those that are often repeated throughout their writing.
Math- A way to adapt the use of word clouds for math is to create a Wordle that introduces lesson vocabulary. Before starting a new math lesson, a word cloud can be displayed as students identify and discuss both familiar and unfamiliar words related to a particular concept. This activates students’ prior knowledge and also serves as a formative assessment, because it gives insight as to what students already know and still need to learn. Students who are ELLs benefit from discussing targeted vocabulary as well as background knowledge, because it builds confidence. Students can also create their own word cloud during math as a review for previously taught content. After a math lesson, students can create a Wordle as a class by brainstorming words that describe what was learned.
Social Studies- The word cloud strategy could easily be adapted in social studies when introducing new content or discussing famous speeches, such as I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr. Rather than reading the entire speech, students can see a visual of the main ideas presented. Students who are ELLs can better comprehend the main ideas of speeches by focusing on key words and phrases that are easier to read. Wordles could be made using the U.S. Constitution, the thirteen original colonies, U.S. presidents, and more.
Science- Word clouds could be adapted for use in science when introducing new content such as planets, the sun, stars, properties of matter, and more. Similar to other content areas, Wordles can be used to activate students’ prior knowledge about particular science content or to review previously covered material. Students can work together to brainstorm and put together their own word cloud to illustrate what they already know or what they learned.
