Vocab Vault Teacher Guide Vocab Vault Expedition
Teacher Implementation Guide • 3rd Grade MCAS Prep
Duration 80-100 min
Activity Overview
The Vocab Vault Expedition is an 8-round collaborative station activity designed for high-stakes test review. Every time a group rotates, they perform a specific "Round" task on the poster at their new station.
The 8-Round Rotation Protocol:
R1: Make a model to solve & label with 2 vocabulary words.
R2: Alternative model & label with 2 vocabulary words.
R3: Write answer sentence; use & underline vocabulary words.
R4: Find and label 2 more vocabulary words.
R5: Find and label 2 final vocabulary words.
R6: Make a clean list of all labeled/underlined words.
R7: Circle the most important words for the MCAS.
R8: Present the circled words and justify their importance.
Materials
8 Poster Starters (Included)
8 Chart Papers (Landscape)
Group Marker Colors
Student Logbooks
Station Roadmap & MCAS Alignment
# Topic Focus Standard Target Word Bank (Min. 8 words) 1 Operations: Groups 3.OA.1 Factor, Product, Array, Quotient, Multiple, Dividend, Divisor, Equal Groups 2 Operations: Properties 3.OA.5 Commutative, Distributive, Associative, Property, Parentheses, Split, Equation, Pattern 3 Fractions: Parts 3.NF.1 Numerator, Denominator, Partition, Unit Fraction, Whole, Parts, Region, Represent 4 Fractions: Lines 3.NF.2 Equivalent, Interval, Endpoint, Distance, Scale, Number Line, Sixths, Thirds 5 Measure: Mass/Volume 3.MD.2 Gram, Kilogram, Liter, Mass, Liquid Volume, Elapsed Time, Milliliters, Capacity 6 Data: Graphs 3.MD.3 Scale, Key, Pictograph, Bar Graph, Interval, Axis, Category, Survey 7 Geometry: Attributes 3.G.1 Quadrilateral, Parallel, Rhombus, Vertex, Angle, Polygon, Trapezoid, Attributes 8 Area & Perimeter 3.MD.7 Square Units, Perimeter, Area, Tiling, Dimension, Length, Width, Additive
Facilitation Tip:
In Round 8 , the group at each station presents the final poster. They must explain why they circled their "most important" words. Ask probing questions: "How would this word appear in an MCAS multiple-choice question?" or "What visual hint helps you remember this term?"
Vocab Vault Slides VOCAB VAULT
8-Round Rotation Protocol
3rd Grade MCAS Expedition
The 8 Expedition Stops
1
Operations: Groups
2
Operations: Properties
3
Fractions: Parts
4
Fractions: Number Lines
5
Measurement: Mass/Volume
6
Data: Scaled Graphs
7
Geometry: Attributes
8
Area & Perimeter
Rounds 1 - 4
ROUND 1
Make a model to solve the prompt. Label it with 2 vocabulary words .
ROUND 2
Make an alternative model . Label it with 2 vocabulary words .
ROUND 3
Write a sentence with the answer. Underline your vocab words!
ROUND 4
Label 2 more vocabulary words from the word bank on the poster.
Rounds 5 - 8
ROUND 5
Label 2 more vocabulary words on the poster (total of 8 labeled!).
ROUND 6
List all vocab words used on the poster. Underline them in your list.
ROUND 7
Decide as a group: What are the most important words? Circle them.
ROUND 8
PRESENT: Share your circled words and explain why they are important.
Rotation Active
07:00
Complete your task before the chime!
Vocab Vault Recording Sheet Expedition Log
Part 1: Initial Missions (Rounds 1-4)
Explorer Name
ROUND 1: THE FIRST MODEL Station At: _______
My 2 Labeled Words:
Notes on my Model:
ROUND 2: THE ALTERNATIVE Station At: _______
My 2 Labeled Words:
How is this different?
ROUND 3: THE SOLUTION SENTENCE Station At: _______
My Sentence (Underline vocab words!):
ROUND 4: WORD HUNTING Station At: _______
2 New Words I Labeled on this Poster:
Expedition Log
Part 2: Mastery Missions (Rounds 5-8)
ROUND 5: THE FINAL WORDS Station At: _______
2 Final Words I Labeled:
ROUND 6: THE MASTER LIST Station At: _______
List 6 words from the poster (Underline them!):
ROUND 7: THE "MVP" SELECTION Station At: _______
List the 3 most important words. Circle the most vital one!
ROUND 8: PRESENTATION READY Station At: _______
Why are your "MVP" words important for the MCAS?
Vocab Vault Posters Set STATION 1
The Equal Groups Factory
DOMAIN: OPERATIONS
Mission:
The factory needs to pack 24 toy cars into equal-sized boxes. How many ways can they do it?
Word Vault:
Factor Product Array Quotient Dividend Divisor Multiple Equal Groups
Rotation Round Tasks:
1: Model + 2 words 2: Alt Model + 2 words 3: Answer (Underlined) 4: +2 Words 5: +2 Words 6: Master List 7: Circle MVP 8: Present
Glue to center of poster
STATION 2
Property Playground
DOMAIN: OPERATIONS
Mission:
Show why \(7 \times 4 = 4 \times 7\). Then, break apart \(8 \times 6\) into smaller parts.
Word Vault:
Commutative Distributive Associative Property Parentheses Split Equation Pattern
Rotation Round Tasks:
1: Model + 2 words 2: Alt Model + 2 words 3: Answer (Underlined) 4: +2 Words 5: +2 Words 6: Master List 7: Circle MVP 8: Present
Glue to center of poster
STATION 3
The Pizza Partition
DOMAIN: FRACTIONS
Mission:
Draw a pizza shared equally by 6 people. Label the parts and the whole.
Word Vault:
Numerator Denominator Unit Fraction Partition Whole Equal Parts Region Represent
Rotation Round Tasks:
1: Model + 2 words 2: Alt Model + 2 words 3: Answer (Underlined) 4: +2 Words 5: +2 Words 6: Master List 7: Circle MVP 8: Present
Glue to center of poster
STATION 4
Fraction Trackers
DOMAIN: FRACTIONS
Mission:
Mark \(\frac{2}{3}\) and \(\frac{4}{6}\) on a line from 0 to 1. Prove they are equivalent.
Word Vault:
Equivalent Interval Sixths Thirds Endpoint Scale Distance Length
Rotation Round Tasks:
1: Model + 2 words 2: Alt Model + 2 words 3: Answer (Underlined) 4: +2 Words 5: +2 Words 6: Master List 7: Circle MVP 8: Present
Glue to center of poster
STATION 5
The Lab Schedule
DOMAIN: MEASUREMENT
Mission:
The experiment starts at 8:05 and ends at 8:42. Find the time passed.
Word Vault:
Elapsed Time Gram Kilogram Liter Milliliters Capacity Mass Estimate
Rotation Round Tasks:
1: Model + 2 words 2: Alt Model + 2 words 3: Answer (Underlined) 4: +2 Words 5: +2 Words 6: Master List 7: Circle MVP 8: Present
Glue to center of poster
STATION 6
