Alphabet Brainstorm

PURPOSE

Ask the learner to think about what they already know about a topic and write words connected to it for each letter of the alphabet.

This activity helps learners activate prior knowledge or background knowledge so that they get a deeper understanding of the content and better retain the information by making connections when they read.

• Step 1

  Pick a topic to read about.

• Step 2

  Ask the learner to think about what they know about this topic.

• Step 3

  For each fact they have about the topic, come up with a key word and write it next to the letter of the alphabet.

• Step 4

  For each fact they have about the topic, come up with a key word and write it next to the letter of the alphabet.

• Step 5

  Try to think of one key word for each letter of the alphabet. If the learner cannot complete all the letters, do not worry, that is okay. Read about the topic and then come back to this sheet and try to finish filling out all the letters in the alphabet.

• Additional Exercise

  Do this activity with a friend or in a group. When the learner and partner have each finished filling out their sheets, discuss the key points together.

• Simplified Exercise

  This activity can be done by illustrating and not writing the key words down.

• For a longer project on the alphabet, refer to the ABC By Me project here: Link