Making Science Vocabulary Stick: Hands-On, Small Group Strategies for Emergent Bilingual Students

Scientific vocabulary is often a major barrier for emergent bilingual students, as the terms are highly content-specific and rarely used in everyday conversation. Without direct vocabulary support, students may struggle to access key scientific concepts. This article, presented by a veteran teacher with a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction, highlights small group strategies such as pictionary, word pop, and graphic organizers that create intentional opportunities for emergent bilingual students to identify, classify, manipulate, and apply scientific vocabulary in meaningful ways. Emphasis will be placed on hands-on experiences, visual supports, and language scaffolds that promote active engagement. This article explores how leveraging small group settings can foster deeper comprehension, confidence, and long-term retention of science vocabulary, ensuring that emergent bilingual learners can access rigorous science learning.