Weekly Accessible Learning Activities: Football Vocabulary, Cold-Water Plunges, Comics Reporting

Each Wednesday we shine a spotlight on five student activities that support a broad range of learners. In this week’s roundup of accessible activities, we invite students to learn how to illustrate their feelings, reflect on their experiences with cold water, meet a Times comics reporter, listen to the pronunciation of a new word and use football vocabulary in context.

Note: To learn more about this new weekly feature, read our introductory post. Please share your thoughts in the comments section or by emailing us at [email protected].

1. Illustrate a feeling.

In this Lesson of the Day, students will learn about how an artist created an illustration to represent the word “languishing.” Then, they will illustrate a pervasive feeling they experienced during the pandemic and illustrate a word or feeling they would like to carry with them into 2022.

2. Reflect on experiences with cold water.

This Student Opinion question asks students to share how they feel when they encounter cold water — whether an ice-cold drink, a cold shower or a frigid swimming pool. Students can share their responses with their classmates, or in the comments section.

3. Learn about the work of a comics reporter.

Have you ever wanted to see the behind-the-scenes experience of a New York Times reporter? What about of a New York Times comics reporter? Students can read a comic by the Times reporter George Gene Gustines and the artist Bill Walko, about learn how Mr. Gustines researches and writes about comics. Looking for more teaching resources? We have a whole lesson plan based on this comic.

4. Learn — and listen to — a new word.

This week Word of the Day debuted a new feature: audio word pronunciation. Going forward students will not only be able to learn a new word from The Times and write their own sentence, but they will also be able to listen to the pronunciation of the word from Vocabulary.com.

5. Practice using football-related vocabulary terms.

This vocabulary quiz allows N.F.L. lovers to show off their knowledge as they practice sports-related reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.