a semantic mapping worksheet, click here.
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Semantic mapping is a visual strategy for vocabulary expansion and extension of knowledge by displaying in categories words related to one another. Semantic mapping is an adaptation of concept definition mapping but builds on students prior knowledge or schema. While it draws on prior knowledge it recognizes important components and shows the relationships among the components. The framework of semantic mapping includes: the concept word, two category examples, and other examples. This is a very interactive process and should be modeled by the teacher first. The steps involved in semantic mapping are: write the concept word on the board, explain the steps involved and have students think of as many words as they can for the concept word, write the list on the board or overhead and have students copy it, and finally in groups have students put the words into categories.