Teaching vocabulary in upper elementary doesn’t have to feel like wading through endless word lists or memorizing definitions that students forget two days later.
When you bring in picture books, vocabulary suddenly becomes vibrant, visual, and downright FUN!
Picture books naturally expose students to rich language, figurative phrases, context clues, and juicy tier-two words. One of my favorite seasonal titles for this is Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie by Jack Bishop. It’s filled with personality, word choice that pops, and tons of moments to pause and say: “Ooooh, that’s a great vocabulary word!”
So grab your read-aloud voice and a stack of picture books! Here are three engaging ways to boost vocabulary using picture books.
1. Use Pictures & Context Clues Like Detectives
Picture books make context clues click because students can pair illustrations with strong textual clues. Before reading, choose a few “mystery words” from the story and have students predict their meanings using only the pictures. Then, read aloud and let them revise or confirm their thinking using context clues from the sentences.
In Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie, students can use illustrations and text together to uncover fun words like delighted, flustered, or celebration, based on what Peyton is doing, feeling, and tasting on her pie quest.
This turns vocabulary into a detective mission and upper elementary students LOVE a role with a little mystery.
2. Build Mini Text Sets Around Vocabulary Themes
Rather than teaching a word once and moving on, try pairing books in text sets: groups of 3–5 books connected by a topic, theme, or repeated vocabulary idea. The repeated exposure is where the vocabulary magic happens!
Use Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie in a food, fall, or family celebration text set and look for recurring tier-two words such as: gather, celebrate, create, and attempt.
When students see these words appear across multiple texts, they begin to internalize meaning and actually apply the vocabulary in conversation and writing.
Other ideas for fall could come from one of these Halloween Book posts:
3. Grow a “Wow Words” Routine and Word Wall
During your read-aloud, pause for “Wow Words,” These words are interesting, descriptive, or powerful tier-two words that deserve a spotlight. After reading, choose 3–5 “Wow Words” to explore together.
With Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie, students might act out a word, sketch a visual, add it to a class word wall, or use it in their own pie-themed sentences.
Why This Works
Picture books build vocabulary because they:
✨ Provide meaningful context
✨ Pair new words with visuals and emotion
✨ Allow students to hear and see words repeatedly
✨ Invite discussion, connection, and creativity
Upper elementary students are not too old for picture books. In fact, this age is where they become even more powerful as mentor texts.
Grab my Peyton’s Picture Perfect Pie resource. If you’re on the hunt for more titles that make vocabulary pop, check out this curated list of picture books that are perfect for vocabulary instruction!
Looking for more picture books that enhance literary skills? Read about teaching theme here!
