Development of vocabulary is one of the most significant features of studying English, particularly among Class 4 students. At this age, children are leaving the basic language learning to the advanced reading and writing. Their vocabulary is very rich and it is dependent on it that they can comprehend, communicate, and express ideas. During the reading process, listening, or classroom learning, extensive vocabulary is the basis of confident communication and creative thinking.
When your child reads a 4 class English book, you may have realized that new words are presented in the chapters every now and then. Nevertheless, it is not enough to learn those words. Children should be exposed all the time, have fun activities and practice new words every day so as to recall and apply them in their real life.
This blog discusses easy, enjoyable, and effective methods of increasing vocabulary among Class 4 children and how parents and teachers can help them in this process.
The importance of Vocabulary Development in Class 4
Vocabulary is not only learning the hard words but knowing the meaning, identifying them in the context and being able to use them properly. In their Class 4 th English syllabus, students should be able to read short stories, poems and passages. A good vocabulary will assist them:
• Reading comprehension - understand more.
• Compose creative essays and paragraphs.
• Share thoughts in the classroom.
• Score better in exams
• Learn to love reading and communication.
In the case where children read a 4th class book or workbook on a regular basis, new words are easily learned naturally. Nonetheless, this learning can be accelerated and more efficient with the help of the structured vocabulary-building techniques.
1. Read Daily -The Essentials of Vocabulary Development.
The most effective method of enhancing vocabulary is through reading. Ask your child to read stories, poems, comics and even kid news. Reading introduces them to words that they may not get in the normal conversation.
In case your child reads a class 4 workbook, you can make reading interactive by asking the following questions:
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What does this word mean?
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Can you find a synonym or opposite for it?
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Can you make your own sentence with this word?
When reading becomes a habit, vocabulary improvement becomes effortless.
Read More: What Are the Basic Topics in Math Class 4?
Reading Activities for Vocabulary Growth
Activity Type |
Description |
Example |
Story Reading Time |
Set aside 15–20 minutes daily for reading. |
Read a short story from a 4 class English book. |
Word Journal |
Maintain a notebook for new words and meanings. |
Write 5 new words daily with usage. |
Word Hunt |
Pick a page from a 4th class book and circle new words. |
Discuss their meanings with your child. |
Sentence Building |
Use new words to form creative sentences. |
“The adventurous boy explored the jungle fearlessly.” |
2. Use Interactive Word Games
Children love learning when it feels like play. Games like word puzzles, crosswords, or vocabulary bingo make word learning fun and engaging.
Try these:
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Scrabble or Word Search games
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Making rhyming pairs (e.g., “cat–hat”)
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Creating a “Word of the Day” challenge
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Using flashcards to match meanings
You can also take words from your child’s class 4th English lessons and use them in these games to reinforce what they learn at school.
3. Encourage Daily Conversations in English
A great way to make vocabulary stick is to use new words in daily conversations.
Parents and teachers can:
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Ask children to describe their day using new words
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Encourage storytelling at the dinner table
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Play a “Describe the Picture” game
For instance, instead of asking “What did you do today?”, ask “What was the most exciting thing that happened today?” This naturally pushes them to think and use new descriptive words.
Consistent conversation practice improves not just vocabulary but also pronunciation and fluency.
4. Teach Synonyms and Antonyms Creatively
Children can easily double their vocabulary by learning synonyms (similar words) and antonyms (opposites). Instead of memorizing them, turn it into an activity.
For example:
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Happy – Glad, Joyful, Cheerful
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Big – Large, Huge, Enormous
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Fast – Quick, Speedy, Swift
You can make flashcards where one side has a word and the other has its synonym or antonym. Games like “Find the Opposite” can make this activity more engaging.
Fun Synonym & Antonym Practice Ideas
Activity |
How It Works |
Example |
Synonym Swap |
Say a word; child replies with its synonym. |
You: “Beautiful” → Child: “Pretty” |
Opposite Challenge |
Say a word; child gives its opposite. |
You: “Cold” → Child: “Hot” |
Drawing Words |
Draw pictures representing opposites. |
Big–Small, Happy–Sad |
Story Twist |
Replace simple words in a story with stronger synonyms. |
“Good” → “Excellent” |
5. Use Technology and Audio Learning
Audiobooks and digital tools could be of great help in terms of vocabulary improvement. Reading English stories, rhymes, or podcasts is useful to enhance word recognition and pronunciation.
There are also numerous learning apps incorporating vocabulary games that correspond with 4 class topics of English books. They turn the learning experience into an exciting and interactive one, which is ideal to a child who is tech-savvy nowadays.
You should encourage your child to listen and repeat new words that he or she hears. The more they listen to a word that is used properly, the more they find it easier to use it.
6. Connect Vocabulary with Real-Life Experiences
Children learn best when words connect to real-life experiences. For instance:
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When baking a cake, teach words like “mix,” “whisk,” “pour,” and “measure.”
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On a rainy day, introduce “drizzle,” “puddle,” or “umbrella.”
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During holidays, use words like “celebrate,” “decorate,” or “gather.”
This method ensures that new words are not just memorized but understood and applied.
Teachers can also relate words from the class 4 workbook to classroom activities. For example, while teaching a science topic, point out descriptive words like “transparent” or “fragile.”
7. Practice Writing Short Paragraphs
Encouraging children to write short essays or stories helps reinforce vocabulary naturally. You can ask them to:
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Describe their favorite cartoon character
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Write about “My Best Friend”
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Compose a story using five new words they learned that week
Writing encourages creative expression and helps retain new words for a longer time.
If your child uses a 4th class book, ask them to write alternate endings to stories or describe their favorite chapter in their own words.
8. Label Household Items
A simple but powerful activity is labeling everyday objects around the home — such as “door,” “window,” “mirror,” “refrigerator,” etc.
Visual learning helps children associate words with real objects. You can make it even more effective by:
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Using colored labels
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Adding both English and Hindi translations
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Making your child replace the labels weekly to remember better
This small daily exposure builds vocabulary passively but powerfully.
9. Use Picture Dictionaries and Word Charts
Class 4 kids visualize words with the aid of a picture dictionary. Seeing a picture and reading the word that is associated with it reinforces knowledge. New words are also visible and memorable because of word charts placed on the walls.
For example, a “Word Wall” in a child’s study area can include:
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Descriptive adjectives (beautiful, tall, shiny)
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Action verbs (run, jump, read)
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Common nouns (chair, tree, river)
These visuals make the learning environment vocabulary-rich and fun.
What are the best ways to remember new words for a long time?
Children retain words more when they are exposed to them, hear and use them frequently. Learn words not by memorizing, but by relating them to pictures, experiences, and feelings.
For instance:
• Draw what the word means.
• Use it in a funny sentence.
• Perform it with the help of a little game or role play.
Fun repetition guarantees long term memory storage. You can also practice new vocabulary in a weekly exercise in a 4 workbook to ensure that the learning is embedded.
What can teachers do to help Class 4 students in vocabulary?
Vocabulary building is an important task of teachers. They can:
• A Word of the Day in the classroom.
• Prepare word games and story telling.
• Promote learning among peers by use of group discussions.
• Enhance the new words with writing assignments.
Relating the vocabulary lessons to real life examples and stories in the 4th English syllabus of the class makes the children interested and active.
Final Thoughts
To develop vocabulary in Class 4 children, there is no need to use complicated methods to achieve it, but to make the process interesting, regular, and significant. A combination of reading, speaking, writing and playing with words forms a good language base.
Challenge your child to read outside their 4 class English book - by talking with him, writing creative stories, and playing games. They will build a rich vocabulary that will help them succeed in school and grow personally when they are regularly exposed and motivated to do so.