The Frayer Model: Building Vocabulary Understanding
Complete 2025 guide to the Frayer Model vocabulary strategy. Free graphic organiser for definitions, characteristics, examples and non-examples. Digital tools and implementation tips.
What is the Frayer Model?
The Frayer Model is a graphic organiser used for word analysis and vocabulary building. This visual representation of concepts is a powerful learning tool, especially beneficial for visual learners, as it helps develop a comprehensive understanding of vocabulary. Originating from social studies education, it's now widely applied across subjects.
At its core, the Frayer Model consists of a square divided into four smaller sections, with the term or concept placed in the centre. Each section serves a distinct purpose: providing a basic definition, listing key characteristics, giving examples, and noting non-examples.
This structure prompts learners to explore and establish relationships between concepts, facilitating deeper engagement with the material.
Key Takeaways
- The Frayer Model uses a four-square graphic organiser to build vocabulary through definitions, characteristics, examples, and non-examples
- It moves beyond rote memorisation by encouraging students to think critically about word meanings and relationships
- Teachers can adapt this free strategy across all subjects and age groups, using either paper templates or digital tools
For teachers, this method serves to reinforce students' background knowledge and clarify unfamiliar vocabulary. It moves beyond rote learning and dictionary definitions, encouraging students to think critically about the words and terms they're learning. By breaking down understanding into digestible parts, the Frayer Model helps students not only remember terms but also understand their application and relevance.
Throughout this article, we'll explore the who, what, where, and why of the Frayer Model. We'll provide practical classroom examples and discuss its historical development. The aim is to equip educators with a thorough grasp of how this strategy can enhance vocabulary development and concept understanding in the classroom.
Who Developed the Frayer Model?
The Frayer Model was created in 1969 by Dorothy Frayer and her colleagues at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. Their main purpose was to help students meet academic vocabulary demands and learn difficult vocabulary more effectively. Dorothy and her team designed the model to support understanding of key vocabulary through explicit instruction and comprehensive word analysis.
Elements of vocabulary instruction such as structure, context, and metaphor are all part of the Frayer Model. It promotes effective word learning through scaffolding, meaning students receive guided practice as they move from a narrow understanding to full mastery. The model also applies Bloom's Taxonomy to develop deep understanding, encouraging reflective inquiry and creativity.
This visual approach to teaching is considered a powerful tool for instructing subject-area vocabulary and crucial concepts. The Frayer Model encourages students to learn abstract concepts through concrete examples, allowing them to construct their own understandings so the information can be applied to everyday life. It works for any problem solving situation.
If you're interested in using more graphical methods for teaching vocabulary and developing deeper understanding, you can explore the various organisers available in our repository. As well as providing a scaffold for students to learn with, they can serve as a springboard towards clearer thinking and writing.
Main Characteristics of the Frayer Model
The Frayer Model includes a four-square chart that provides academic vocabulary knowledge, while clarifying, determining, and analysing difficult vocabulary, word structure and meaning. The central oval has the chosen word written on it. In some cases, parts of speech can also be written in the central oval.
The Frayer Model is a graphic organiser used to help students learn new academic terms. It includes four squares that represent a word's characteristics, definition, examples, and non-examples. This tool allows learners to gain better understanding of difficult words through clarification and analysis.
The model works by having the chosen word written in the centre of an oval. Within each of the four squares surrounding it, associated concepts can be written down. The first square is for characteristics; this includes defining attributes such as sizes, shapes, and functions.
The second box is for the definition; this is usually expressed in one sentence and should cover the general meaning of the word or term being studied. The third box holds an example provided to give context around what can be expected from the given concept or term being assessed.
In the fourth box there's a listing of related non-examples; here you write down items that are related but don't fit into the current definition as presented by either characteristics or examples found in other squares, ruling them out altogether.
How Teachers Can Use the Frayer Model
- Introducing new concepts: When presenting a new concept or topic, teachers can use the Frayer Model to help students understand and define key terms, as well as identify their characteristics, examples, and non-examples.
- Differentiating instruction: Teachers can differentiate instruction by customising the Frayer Model according to students' needs, learning styles, or proficiency levels, allowing for more individualised learning experiences.
- Reinforcing prior knowledge: The Frayer Model can be used as a review tool to reinforce students' understanding of previously taught concepts, enabling them to connect new information with existing knowledge.
- Encouraging peer collaboration: Teachers can have students work in pairs or small groups to complete a Frayer Model, encouraging collaboration, discussion, and deeper understanding of the subject matter.
- Supporting visual learners: The Frayer Model's graphic organiser format helps visual learners better comprehend and retain information by organising it in a visually appealing and structured manner.
- Enhancing critical thinking: By requiring students to analyse concepts, their attributes, and their relationship to other ideas, the Frayer Model promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Facilitating self-assessment: Students can use the Frayer Model to monitor their own understanding of concepts and vocabulary, identifying areas where they may need additional support or clarification.
- Building cross-curricular connections: Teachers can use the Frayer Model to highlight the interconnectedness of concepts across different subjects, illustrating how vocabulary and ideas relate to one another in various disciplines.
- Preparing for assessments: Teachers can incorporate the Frayer Model into test preparation activities, helping students review and solidify their understanding of key concepts and vocabulary before exams.
- Encouraging independent study: By providing students with a structured method for exploring and analysing new concepts, the Frayer Model supports independent study and self-directed learning.
By integrating the Frayer Model into instructional strategies, teachers can enhance students' comprehension of subject-specific vocabulary, deepen their understanding of concepts, and promote critical thinking and collaboration within the classroom.
Effective Vocabulary Instruction Using the Template
- Teachers need to analyse the concept or keyword they wish to introduce. They'll create a list of features vital to the explanation of the tricky vocabulary;
- Teachers present the concept to students and allow pupils to give examples (photographs or pictures work well for younger children);
- Create a list of all the robust vocabulary that students mentioned on the board. At this stage, it's advisable not to write anything in the diagram yet. Students must be encouraged to contribute to the list or debate examples;
- The teacher asks students what's common among all the examples. Their responses are written on a new list on the board (but the model remains empty at this step);
The students read the list and then write more examples to the first list and highlight those that aren't present in their reading;
- Students do the same with the second list; they write more features and highlight those not present in their reading.
- The teacher introduces the Frayer Model to pupils and writes the examples in suitable sections (Non-examples and Examples). Students may need to carry out further research to find out if some examples are correct or incorrect.
- The teacher discusses each feature of the second list with students. If a feature is found in all examples, it goes in Essential Characteristics. Features found in only some examples go in Nonessential Characteristics (e.g., a particular size, colour, or gender). Students may carry out further research to determine if certain characteristics are nonessential or essential, either individually or with classmates.
- Students use the information in the model to write a passage (either individually or with partners) describing the provided concept. After writing, they may share details with classmates to discuss the concept. After exchanging ideas, students may write a new passage.
Examples of Using the Frayer Model
While studying a unit, students may need to learn each vocabulary term in a list. Out of this robust vocabulary list, only a few words represent the key terms. For instance, students studying a science unit about rocks might encounter the vocabulary shown below.
Even if primary school students learn vocabulary independently from a vocabulary wall, they need to know the relationships between complex concepts and build a deeper understanding of major academic concepts. In the entire vocabulary list, three content terms create the foundation for the whole unit: metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks, and igneous rocks. As these phrases are primary to understanding the content, instructors may need to spend extra time ensuring pupils understand them.
In this case, it's helpful to use student-friendly definitions along with a graphic organiser like the Frayer Model. When teachers use instructional methods involving the Frayer Model appropriately, they can incorporate elements of vocabulary teaching including word selection, clearly contextualising and defining vocabulary terms, helping pupils actively participate in word processing, and offering understanding through multiple exposures to phrases.
Which Subjects Work Best with the Frayer Model?
Educational experts champion the Frayer Model as a versatile and effective vocabulary instruction tool, promoting vocabulary development and accelerating student learning across all grade levels and subjects. The model's adaptable approach proves particularly beneficial in elementary classrooms, where pupils are introduced to key concepts and unique vocabulary intrinsic to each discipline.
The Frayer Model consists of four cells, each with a designated title, forming a cohesive layout that encourages learners to go beyond simple vocabulary memorisation. This model functions as a powerful learning tool and graphic organiser, facilitating vocabulary development while simultaneously enabling brainstorming of original ideas and essential characteristics connected to specific topics.
Students using the Frayer Model benefit from a focused brainstorming strategy, particularly beneficial for those who require greater concentration or are prone to distraction. This approach helps students navigate difficult vocabulary and retain information more effectively throughout the learning process.
When implemented before starting a project, the Frayer Model allows students to brainstorm ideas that will bolster their research. Alternatively, it can be used after project completion to consolidate information gathered during the learning process.
The benefits of the Frayer Model extend beyond vocabulary development, serving as an all-encompassing instructional tool that encourages deeper understanding of subject-specific terminology. Its effectiveness in propelling student learning makes the Frayer Model an indispensable resource for teachers, enhancing the educational experience across a wide array of disciplines.
Using the Frayer Model in 2025
The Frayer Model remains a powerful, free vocabulary development strategy with new digital applications.
Cost
Free - The Frayer Model is a teaching methodology requiring only paper or digital templates.
Digital Frayer Model Tools
- Create templates in Google Slides or Canva
- Use interactive whiteboards for whole-class modelling
- AI tools can generate example Frayer Models quickly
- Digital collaboration using shared documents
Related Vocabulary Strategies
Further Reading: Key Papers on Vocabulary Instruction
These foundational studies have shaped our understanding of how the Frayer Model and similar strategies support vocabulary acquisition. Each offers evidence that teachers can apply directly to classroom practice.
- Supporting Vocabulary Acquisition in Physical Education Settings (Wickens & Parker, 2019)
This paper discusses the Frayer Model as a vocabulary strategy that reinforces conceptual understanding in physical education. The researchers found that structured vocabulary instruction using graphic organisers improved students' ability to articulate movement concepts and apply terminology correctly during activities. - Model Frayer untuk Penguasaan Kosakata Siswa Sekolah Dasar (Sayekti, 2015)
This research emphasises the Frayer Model as a powerful tool for understanding abstract and academic concepts. The study found particular effectiveness for visual learners through the four-square model, with students demonstrating improved retention and application of new vocabulary compared to traditional methods. - Improving Literacy in Secondary School Geography (Rampersad, Ali & Ali, 2020)
This study demonstrates how the Frayer Model improved students' reading comprehension and vocabulary use in secondary school geography. Teachers found that students who used the model showed stronger performance on assessments requiring geographical terminology and concept application. - A Comparison between the Frayer Model of Concept Attainment and the Textbook Approach (Peters, 1974)
This foundational paper compares the Frayer Model with traditional textbook approaches, showing its superiority in facilitating conceptual understanding and improving organisational patterns of written material. Students using the Frayer Model demonstrated better transfer of learning to new contexts. - Theory-Based Instructional Models Applied in Classroom Contexts (Pham, 2011)
This research highlights the Frayer Model's effectiveness in supporting self-directed learning, collaborative learning, and critical thinking. The study found that students who regularly used the model developed stronger metacognitive awareness of their own vocabulary learning processes.