Curated OER
"Desk Top Teaching" - Word Interrogation
Don't let your class get tripped up on the tricky words in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood! Instead, assign each member of the class one or two words and each can be an expert. Explicit directions are included, as well as a list of...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Origins: A Simple Word Game For Use In Human Relations Trainings
Words can hurt. Words may not break bones but they can break a heart. An activity focused on the meaning of and the history of some often heard words and phrases is designed to raise awareness of the importance of choosing words...
Curated OER
Vocabulary: Make Connections with New Vocabulary
Connecting meaning to a given word via image or sentence can really help learners build their vocabulary and in turn enhance their reading ability. The class constructs a chart where they define each new vocabulary word, come up with an...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Animal Action ABC
Explore the meanings of tier two vocabulary words. In small groups, young learners listen to a read-aloud story and evaluate new vocabulary words for their meaning.
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Franklin Goes to School
Young readers analyze tier two vocabulary words with Franklin's help! Learners explore new vocabulary words discovered while reading Franklin Goes to School. They record their new vocabulary words using a word journal or discovery chart.
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Kindergarten Count to 100
During read-aloud of Kindergarten Count to 100 by Jacqueline Rogers, children listen for context clues about vocabulary that includes the words "first," "second," and "third." I love the way vocabulary development skills are integrated...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Mama, Do You Love Me?
Youngsters analyze tier two vocabulary words. Learners explore their comprehension of tier two vocabulary words found while reading Mama, Do You Love Me? and record their vocabulary using a word journal or discovery chart.
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Dandelion
Explore vocabulary while reading Dandelion Learners record their learning using a word journal or discovery chart, and the whole class reviews the meaning of each word using examples.
Curated OER
The Visual Thesaurus and the SAT
Demonstrate strategies for tackling unfamiliar vocabulary words in preparation for the SAT. Using Visual Thesaurus computer software, middle and high schoolers interpret contextual clues, solve sample sentence completion questions, and...
Curated OER
Learning New Definitions
Students are introduced to new vocabulary. Then they are to guess what the words mean without using a dictionary. They organize words into a graphic organizer.
Curated OER
Peter and the Starcatchers: Magic Squares
Engage your class in vocabulary from Peter and the Starcatchers with this exercise. Learners match words to their definitions to determine the magic number.
Curated OER
My Antonia: Magic Squares (Vocabulary Strategy)
Help your pupils discover the power of context clues by teaching the this vocabulary strategy. Designed to go with words from Willa Cather's My Antonia, this exercise focuses on having individuals use their own words to define new...
Curated OER
Word Structure 2 - Suffixes
Eighth graders identify suffixes in unfamiliar words. They identify vocabulary words as nouns or adjectives using context clues and suffixes. They review the definition of a prefix, along with examples of prefixes and explain the...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Students explore language arts by reading a children's story in class. In this three tier vocabulary lesson, students read the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and identify the specific use for several vocabulary words. Students...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Definitions and Using Sentences
Fourth graders create sentences in a quiz form that have a blank in it for their vocabulary word. In this vocabulary lesson plan, the other students in the class try to figure out which word goes in the sentences.
Curated OER
Rooting One's Way To Meaning
Students use a thesaurus on the internet to explore the meanings of Greek and Latin roots. They find definitions of given words, draw a concept map for root words, and write four synonyms for each word. Students discover how Latin and...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy
Dedicate one or two class periods to creating a class glossary of geometry terms. Many geometry terms also appear in our every day vocabulary, but they have very different meanings. For example, the word gross in geometry is very...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Building
Use primary text documents to learn word roots. Learners listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence and highlight words they don't know. They compile these words and guess their meanings. They discuss roots, prefixes,...
Curated OER
What Makes Jokes Funny?
Explore how language is used for comic effect. Middle schoolers determine which of the three formulas for jokes (double meanings, unexpected outcome, humorous mental image) make each of 18 classic, corny examples funny. They complete a...
Curated OER
Day One Dance Workshop
Fifth graders complete a unit of lessons on the definition of dance. They view videos of various dances, compare/contrast the dances viewed, categorize a list of words about dance on a handout, write journal responses, and perform dance...
Illustrative Mathematics
Estimating Square Roots
No calculators! Assure your learners that they can find the square root of a large number. All they need are two known squares close by and a table. Come up with an additional practice and your number crunchers will have it mastered in...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Toss
Learners play a vocabulary game. When they identify the correct work-wall word, they earn a point and a chance to double his or her point by shooting a basket. This game is designed to reinforce vocabulary skills by providing a fun way...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Development
Students create new words. In this vocabulary development lesson students use five root words and add a prefix and a suffix to make new words. They use the new words in a sentence.
Curated OER
Frequency Tables
Seventh graders construct frequency tables and box-and-whisker plots. After constructing tables and plots, they take a quiz on mean, median, mode, range, scientific notation, and number properties.