Frayer Model

A four-square graphic organiser that forces learners to analyse a target word through definition, characteristics, examples, and non-examples — building depth of processing around a single lexical item.

Procedure

1. Draw a four-square grid with the target word in a central oval. Label the quadrants: Definition (top-left), Characteristics (top-right), Examples (bottom-left), Non-examples (bottom-right).
2. Model the first word with a think-aloud. Complete all four quadrants on the board, explicitly reasoning about what belongs where.
3. Assign a target word to each student (or pair). Learners complete their own grid in writing, using dictionaries, a reading text, or their own knowledge.
4. Pairs compare grids. The non-examples quadrant produces the most discussion because boundary cases force clarification.
5. Students present their word to a small group or post grids for a gallery tour.

Why it works

The non-examples quadrant is the engine. Identifying what something is not forces learners to map the conceptual boundaries of a word rather than relying on a one-line gloss. This generates the kind of deep processing that Craik and Lockhart's levels-of-processing framework predicts will produce durable retention — and positions the word within a richer semantic network than a translation ever could.

Variations

• Paired Frayer: Two learners complete one grid together, negotiating each quadrant.
• Abstract concepts: Use with terms like democracy, irony, sustainability where non-examples reveal the sharpest distinctions.
• Image quadrant: Replace one quadrant with a drawn or clipped image for visual learners.

Tips

• Choose words worth the investment. A five-minute grid per word means you will cover 4–6 items in a lesson, so select high-value academic or thematic vocabulary rather than everyday lexis.
• Collect completed grids in a vocabulary notebook for spaced review.