Grade Level Vocabulary
Age-appropriate vocabulary lists for elementary through high school students.
Elementary (K-2)
Foundational vocabulary for early learners
big
Large in size
small
Little in size
happy
Feeling joy or pleasure
sad
Feeling unhappy
friend
A person you like and trust
family
Parents, children, and relatives
school
A place for learning
teacher
A person who teaches
learn
To gain knowledge or skill
play
To engage in activity for enjoyment
help
To make it easier for someone
share
To give a portion to others
kind
Friendly and considerate
brave
Ready to face danger or pain
careful
Taking care to avoid danger
Total words: 15
Elementary (3-5)
Intermediate vocabulary building
achieve
To successfully reach a goal
ancient
Very old; from a long time ago
challenge
A difficult task or problem
compare
To examine similarities and differences
conclude
To bring to an end; to decide
courage
Bravery in the face of difficulty
describe
To give details about something
discover
To find or learn something new
environment
The natural world around us
estimate
To roughly calculate or judge
evidence
Facts or information that prove something
examine
To look at closely and carefully
experiment
A test to discover something
explore
To travel and discover new places
identify
To recognize or establish what something is
investigate
To research or study carefully
measure
To find the size or amount of something
observe
To watch carefully
predict
To say what will happen in the future
solution
An answer to a problem
Total words: 20
Middle School (6-8)
Advanced vocabulary for middle school students
abandon
To leave behind or give up completely
abstract
Existing in thought rather than physical form
adequate
Sufficient for a specific requirement
analyze
To examine methodically and in detail
approach
A way of dealing with something
assume
To suppose something without proof
authority
The power or right to give orders
circumstance
A fact or condition connected with an event
component
A part or element of a larger whole
consequent
Following as a result or effect
considerable
Notably large in size or amount
construct
To build or form by putting parts together
contrast
The state of being noticeably different
contribution
Something given to help achieve a goal
derive
To obtain something from a source
distribute
To give shares of something to others
establish
To set up or create on a firm basis
illustrate
To explain or make clear with examples
interpret
To explain the meaning of something
pursue
To follow or chase with determination
Total words: 20
High School (9-12)
College-preparatory vocabulary
abstract
Theoretical rather than concrete
advocate
To publicly support or recommend
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation
arbitrary
Based on random choice rather than reason
coherent
Logical and consistent
comprehensive
Complete and including everything
concurrent
Existing or happening at the same time
controversy
Disagreement or argument about something
correlation
A mutual relationship between things
criteria
Standards for judging or deciding
deduce
To arrive at by reasoning
demonstrate
To clearly show the existence of something
differentiate
To recognize or show a difference
diminish
To make or become less
emphasize
To give special importance to something
explicit
Stated clearly and in detail
facilitate
To make an action easier
fundamental
Forming a necessary base or core
implement
To put a plan into effect
implicit
Suggested though not directly expressed
incorporate
To include as part of a whole
inevitable
Certain to happen; unavoidable
intrinsic
Belonging naturally; essential
manipulate
To handle or control skillfully
phenomenon
A remarkable or observable fact or event
Total words: 25
Building Grade-Level Vocabulary
Age-appropriate vocabulary development is crucial for academic success. Research shows that vocabulary knowledge is directly linked to reading comprehension and overall academic achievement.
Strategies for Learning:
- Context Clues: Learn to determine word meanings from surrounding text
- Word Parts: Study prefixes, suffixes, and root words to understand new vocabulary
- Daily Practice: Learn 3-5 new words each day through reading and conversation
- Active Use: Use new words in writing and speaking to reinforce learning
- Visual Associations: Create mental images or connections to remember meanings
- Review Regularly: Revisit learned words to move them into long-term memory
For Educators:
- Pre-teach key vocabulary before introducing new content
- Provide multiple exposures to words in different contexts
- Encourage students to maintain personal vocabulary journals
- Use graphic organizers to help students categorize and connect words
- Incorporate vocabulary games and interactive activities