Catnip’s Word Walls aim to enhance science vocabulary acquisition for middle school students by creating a visually engaging, print-rich classroom environment. These word walls will highlight key science terms aligned with TEKS and will be updated regularly to reflect current units of study. Through daily integration into lessons, labs, and discussions, students will develop a stronger understanding of scientific concepts and the language used to describe them. This project especially supports English learners and students with varying academic needs by making science language more accessible and meaningful.

Crosby Middle School serves a diverse student population with a wide range of academic and linguistic needs. Over half of the campus’s 1,600+ students identify as Hispanic (52%), and 24% are classified as Emergent Bilingual, requiring targeted support in academic language acquisition—particularly in content-heavy subjects like science. Additionally, 15% of students receive special education services, and 52% are identified as at-risk. Economic need is also significant, with 58% of students classified as economically disadvantaged and 53% qualifying for free meals. These demographics highlight the critical need for accessible, engaging instructional tools—like Catnip’s Science Word Walls—that make academic vocabulary more visible, meaningful, and inclusive for all learners.

The Catnip’s Science Word Walls project is designed to strengthen academic vocabulary acquisition and scientific literacy among middle school students through the intentional use of interactive, content-rich word walls in the science classroom. Vocabulary is a foundational component of understanding science, and this project will directly support student learning by making complex terms more visible, accessible, and engaging throughout the instructional day. With grant funding, science classrooms will be equipped with durable, visually appealing materials to create themed word walls that align with current TEKS-based units of study. These walls will include tiered vocabulary, visuals, student-created definitions, and real-world connections. Students will engage with the word walls daily through vocabulary games, bell-ringer activities, writing prompts, and collaborative learning tasks. By transforming a static wall into a dynamic learning tool, students will have ongoing, meaningful exposure to key terminology—an approach proven to improve retention and comprehension, particularly for English learners and students with academic challenges. Activities will take place in all science classrooms across grades 6–8 on campus, impacting approximately 1650 students. Teachers will update the word walls routinely as units change—from energy transformations and ecosystems to chemical reactions and space systems—ensuring alignment with district pacing and instructional goals. Word wall use will be integrated into lesson plans, lab instructions, and formative assessments, giving students multiple modes of engagement with academic language. Research consistently shows that academic vocabulary instruction is a key predictor of success in content-area learning. According to Marzano (2004), direct vocabulary instruction combined with repeated exposure and student interaction increases content retention significantly. Additionally, the use of visuals and structured vocabulary supports aligns with best practices for supporting diverse learners, including English language learners (Echevarria, Vogt, & Short, 2017). By embedding vocabulary into daily routines in a visible and accessible way, students build confidence in using precise scientific language in both written and verbal expression. This project directly supports our district’s mission to personalize learning by addressing diverse academic needs through differentiated strategies. Word walls serve as anchor supports, allowing all students to access rigorous content while supporting individual growth. It also aligns with our campus plan to increase student achievement in science by embedding literacy across the curriculum. By equipping classrooms with the tools to make science vocabulary more visible, consistent, and engaging, Catnip’s Science Word Walls will help students not only learn the words—but use them with purpose.