Semantic Mapping to Build Vocabulary

What Is Semantic Mapping?

Semantic mapping is a strategy used to connect and organize words in a visual way, just like a graphic organizer.

It involves placing a word or idea in the middle and linking related words and terms around it, forming a map-like or web-like structure.

This process helps a student visually connect the ways that different words and ideas fit together, so they can understand them better.

It’s kind of like making a web of words that connect to one main idea!

3️⃣ Most semantic maps include three parts:

1. An idea or word
2. Broad categories
3. Supporting details

Although the term ‘Semantic Mapping’ sounds quite academic, it’s easy to remember if you think of it this way: Semantics has to do with meaning and mapping is a visual representation.

➡️ Bottom Line: Semantic mapping visually displays and organizes the meaning of words or ideas.

Why It Works

The purpose of a semantic map is to show how words or ideas are connected in a clear, visual way. It helps with vocabulary development, comprehension, and critical thinking.

According to Susan Neuman (2019), “knowing a word’s meaning is not sufficient unless it is tied to a network of concepts that helps children understand their world.”

So, semantic mapping is an especially meaningful strategy because new information must be linked to existing knowledge to ‘stick!’ This is essential for building new content knowledge and learning new vocabulary.

The image above shows another example of a semantic map following a slightly different methodology.

The main word or idea is “destruction,” which connects to four related sub-categories: causes, examples, synonyms, and word parts. Each of those concepts is connected to examples that fall under those sub-categories.

It helps students break down words using morphology AND helps improve comprehension and vocabulary!

Teaching Semantic Mapping to Students

To implement semantic mapping with your students, follow these steps:

1. Explicitly teach them what semantic mapping is: a graphic organizer.
2. Explain why it’s important: to learn new words/ideas by connecting them to existing words/ideas.
3. Teach a general procedure to complete it (see below).

Remember to explicitly teach, model, and practice the strategy together.

Procedure

1. Pick a Word: Choose a word or idea you want to explore from a connected text.
2. Write the Word: Write the chosen word in the center of the map.
3. Brainstorm: Think of related ideas, concepts, or other words that explain the main word. Use context clues from the connected text to help you. List all the words on one side of the map.
4. Categorize: Look at all the words and organize them in categories. For each category, try add more information, like examples, details, or even pictures, to make the meaning clearer. Use a dictionary and thesaurus for help.
5. Update the Map: After reading the connected text again, check your map. Add new details, rearrange, or fix anything that needs updating.
6. Share the Map: Share and discuss using collaborative conversations.

Using the Template

Download our free printable semantic mapping template below! There are a lot of reasons it would be beneficial with your students:

• The activity provides lots of opportunities for rich discussion.
• It’s versatile; it can be used to teach concepts/ideas OR words, building content knowledge and vocabulary.
• It’s an especially effective whole group activity. Once students understand and have practiced the the procedure, they can use it in groups, with partners, or on their own.
• It’s another essential component to vocabulary instruction, just like morphology!
• It gives kids a voice as they learn and grow together. Their map may be different from the one the teacher envisions, and that’s perfectly okay. It’s actually encouraged!
• It’s a strategy that is proven to be effective with struggling readers and those with reading disabilities.
• It can be easy to integrate technology to create your map! A favorite online tool is bubbl.

🤩 Looking for more great ways to teach vocabulary? Check out our recommendation for the best vocabulary-building books, and then grab our free and customizable word matrix and alphaboxes graphic organizer.

Research References:

• Hyerle, D. (1996). Visual Tools for Constructing Knowledge. Alexandria, VA: Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development.
• Neuman, S. B. (2019). Comprehension in Disguise: The Role of Knowledge in Children’s Learning. Perspectives on Language and Literacy, 45(4), 12-16. Read the full article.

🖨 Download & Print

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Semantic Map

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⭐️ MORE Freebies: Printable Word Matrix, Alphaboxes Graphic Organizer.

Drop a comment below to tell us how you’re using Semantic Mapping in your classroom!