Glossary Teacher Resources

The glossary (or clavis) is surely one of the most important parts of a book. This research tool, an alphabetical list of special or uncommon words usually found at the end of a text, provides readers with a word’s definition. Glossaries can be found in any kind of book, be it fiction, non-fiction, or technical and scientific works.

While glossaries appear similar to dictionaries, the two research tools are different. Here’s an activity that asks middle schoolers to examine these differences. A book about emperor penguins offers elementary students an opportunity to practice using a glossary to find the meaning of words used in the story.

A great way to review glossaries and other text features is to ask young writers to create a glossary for their own fables or a published work. How about creating a glossary of English words with Native American or Spanish origins, or for terms associated with the Winter Olympic sports? This Common Core glossary lesson is designed for learners with communication or language difficulties. And who couldn’t use a product specification glossary for a new electronic device (in a lesson where students pretend to be product managers)?

Glossaries are a collection of words, words that have special meanings. The resources in our collection help learners understand the power, depth, and breadth of meaning associated with these words.

Showing 893 resources
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Primary
Harvard University

Harvard's Chaucer Page: Compare Chaucer & Petrarch

For Students 9th - 10th
Chaucer, in his "Canticus Troili" from Book One of "Troilus and Criseyda," draws from Petrarch's "If Love Does Not Exist." The former is written in Middle English, the latter in Italian, both without glossaries or further translation, so...
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Handout
Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Beyond Geometry: Performance (Art), Defined

For Students 9th - 10th
Glossary entry for performance art.
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Handout
Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Beyond Geometry: Conceptual Art, Defined

For Students 9th - 10th
Glossary entry defines what is meant by the term conceptual art.
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Handout
Other

Paschen Series Defined

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief definition is given for Paschen Series in this glossary of Chemistry-related terms.
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Handout
University of California

A Quick Guide to the Mathematical Jargon

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This glossary has definitions of many terms used in calculus including absolute maximum.
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Handout
Lingolex

Lingolex.com: The Vocabulary of Jobs and Professions in English and Spanish

For Students 9th - 10th
A glossary of specific occupational and professional terms translated with English and Spanish equivalents.
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Website
Bankrate

Bankrate: Credit Cards

For Students 9th - 10th
An online guide to credit cards is presented by Bankrate.com. Content includes information on credit card rates, an online glossary of credit card terms, an archive of stories related to credit and credit cards, hints and tips regarding...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Lama Zopa, Rinpoche

For Students 9th - 10th
A teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the use of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Explains why Tibetan Buddhist use the prayer wheel. Discusses the different kinds of prayer wheels and the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Includes a glossary of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Benefits of Prayer Wheels

For Students 9th - 10th
A teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the use of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Explains why Tibetan Buddhist use the prayer wheel. Discusses the different kinds of prayer wheels and the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Includes a glossary of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Benefits of Prayer Wheels

For Students 9th - 10th
A teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the use of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Explains why Tibetan Buddhist use the prayer wheel. Discusses the different kinds of prayer wheels and the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Includes a glossary of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Benefits of Prayer Wheels

For Students 9th - 10th
A teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the use of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Explains why Tibetan Buddhist use the prayer wheel. Discusses the different kinds of prayer wheels and the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Includes a glossary of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Benefits of Prayer Wheels

For Students 9th - 10th
A teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the use of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Explains why Tibetan Buddhist use the prayer wheel. Discusses the different kinds of prayer wheels and the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Includes a glossary of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Benefits of Prayer Wheels

For Students 9th - 10th
A teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the use of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Explains why Tibetan Buddhist use the prayer wheel. Discusses the different kinds of prayer wheels and the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Includes a glossary of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Benefits of Prayer Wheels

For Students 9th - 10th
A teaching by Lama Zopa Rinpoche on the use of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel. Explains why Tibetan Buddhist use the prayer wheel. Discusses the different kinds of prayer wheels and the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. Includes a glossary of...
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Graphic
Curated OER

The Galileo Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This award-winning site from Rice University offers extensive information about Galileo's life, work, and times. It includes many images, some maps, a timeline, a bibliography, glossary, web links, and the transcriptions of many letters...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Search

For Students 9th - 10th
This award-winning site from Rice University offers extensive information about Galileo's life, work, and times. It includes many images, some maps, a timeline, a bibliography, glossary, web links, and the transcriptions of many letters...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Rice University: The Galileo Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This award-winning site from Rice University offers extensive information about Galileo's life, work, and times. It includes many images, some maps, a timeline, a bibliography, glossary, web links, and the transcriptions of many letters...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Nasa: Basics of Radio Astronomy

For Students 9th - 10th
Site developed by NASA to support training at the Goldstone-Apple Valley Radio Telescope. A manual in PDF format that covers everything from the basics of electromagnetic spectrum through radio sources through mapping the sky in the...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Isp Menu How to Choose an Internet Service Provider

For Students 9th - 10th
This site compares dial-up, DSL and webhosting services offered by selected U.S. Internet Service Providers. The site includes a glossary of terms and explanations of the various services out there.
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Curated OER

Dobson Organ at the University of South Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an excellent site about the pipe organ and how it works. It also includes a "Glossary of Organ Terms."
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Graphic
Curated OER

Sheldon Brown Photo

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a number of articles about bicycles. This particular page is the index to a glossary of bicycle terms.
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Graphic
Curated OER

The Castles of Wales

For Students 9th - 10th
This site includes an index and maps of castles in Wales, plus essays, glossary of castle words, fAQ's, plus other information related to castles.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Sumo Print

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a history of sumo wrestling, rules of sumo and a glossary of terms.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Japanese Sumo Print

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a history of sumo wrestling, rules of sumo and a glossary of terms.

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