I love to teach vocabulary with FUN!
These quirky words will spice up your vocabulary lessons and help students engagingly grasp new concepts.
Ready to teach vocabulary? Check out these fun words!
- Flummox (verb)
Meaning: To confuse or perplex someone.
Teaching Tip: Act out a situation where someone is really confused, like a student trying to solve a tricky math problem. Ask the class, “Who feels flummoxed by this?” It’s a fun way to engage them in the word’s meaning!
- Lollygag (verb)
Meaning: To spend time aimlessly, to dawdle.
Teaching Tip: Show a video or picture of someone wasting time (like a cartoon character). Ask the class, “What do you think this person is doing? Are they lollygagging?” Then, have students act out their best “lollygagging” moments!
- Gobbledygook (noun)
Meaning: Language that is nonsense or hard to understand.
Teaching Tip: Speak in “gobbledygook” (nonsense language) to the class—say things like, “Blibber blabber boop!” and ask students to guess what it means. Once they’re puzzled, explain that this is exactly what “gobbledygook” sounds like!
- Skedaddle (verb)
Meaning: To run away quickly, especially from danger.
Teaching Tip: Play a quick game where students “skedaddle” when they hear the word. For extra fun, use a bell or buzzer and tell them, “When you hear the bell, skedaddle!” This is a great way to make the word come to life.
Ready for more?
- Bamboozle (verb)
Meaning: To trick or deceive someone.
Teaching Tip: Show a magic trick or a simple puzzle to “bamboozle” the class. After the reveal, explain how they were tricked and use the word in context by saying, “I bamboozled you with that trick!”
- Wing Nut (noun)
Meaning: A person who is eccentric, crazy, or a little unpredictable.
Teaching Tip: Describe a character (maybe from a book or a movie) who is a “wing nut” and then ask students, “What would a wing nut do in this situation?” It’s a light-hearted way to introduce the word.
- Heckle (verb)
Meaning: To interrupt or make fun of someone, especially in a loud or rude way.
Teaching Tip: Create a skit where one student tries to speak, and another “heckles” them by shouting funny, silly things. Discuss how heckling makes people feel and practice using the word in different situations.
Wrapping up!
These words will definitely bring some excitement and humor into your classroom, while helping your students expand their vocab in a fun, memorable way. Let me know how these go over in your lessons—I’m always happy to hear how you’re using these ideas!
Read more about teaching vocabulary here!
Your partner in ESL!
Lori
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