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Introduce Vocabulary: Make Way for Ducklings (McCloskey)
Use the Caldecott Award-winning book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it) to guide budding readers through vocabulary in context. Although the instruction here is limited to the...
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Glossaries
Explore text structure with a focus on the glossary feature in informational texts. Learners read a brief introduction before examining a glossary from a text about plants. They reference it while completing four comprehension questions....
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The Amazing World of Dictionaries
Use this resource to discuss various ways to dictionaries can be used. What a terrific presentation to display when exploring how dictionaries are used to define words, check spellings, identify parts of speech, and more. The PowerPoint...
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MyVocabulary.com: Word Roots PLIC, FAC, and COGN Intermediate Crossword Puzzle
A fun and challenging vocabulary exercise that focuses the learner's attention on word root meanings, this crossword puzzle would make a great homework or sponge activity. Pupils are provided with 12 clues and they must come up with...
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The Three M's of Statistics: Mode, Median, Mean
Young mathematicians use the Visual Thesaurus to define mean, median, and mode. In this mean, median and mode activity, learners use online sources to find the definitions of mean, median, and mode before applying the concepts to a class...
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Beyond the Dictionary: Meaningful Word Study
Engaging lesson and activity ideas that grow pupils' word knowledge in all content areas.
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Vocabulary Game
Help scholars discover new ways to build their vocabulary. Groups create a game involving their vocabulary words. Using the jigsaw model, the groups shuffle and play the games of the other groups. Save the games and use them for other...
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Prefixes Micro- and Mega-
Explore vocabulary context clues with a prefix activity. Using the prefixes micro- and mega-, fourth graders complete sentence frames. They then make up their own word with the correct prefixes. Helpful as homework or during a writing...
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Synonyms and Antonyms
Mix up your writing lessons by having kids look at recent newspaper articles instead of their own work. They work in pairs and rewrite sports news articles using synonyms and antonyms for a set number of words. Then they share their work...
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Homographs
There are eight homograph riddles here: can your scholars figure them out? For each, there are three definitions and a picture. Learners use the picture and multiple meanings as clues, recording a word that matches all three. They read...
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Reinvigorate Your Vocabulary
Eighth graders participate in a variety of activities to examine the meanings and roots of word derivatives and the meanings of words. Using context clues, they determine the meanings of words omitted from a passage and complete a prefix...
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Alphabetical Order
This is a vocabulary worksheet with a twist! Young elementary-schoolers put these 13 words into alphabetical order before finding their meanings, uses, and origins. They will need to use reference materials, and may need some help...
Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.4
Your pupils will be expected to determine the meaning of words and how those words affect the meaning of a text. Help them master this skill with the ideas listed here. First, look over the two activities that could be used for your...
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It's Opposite Day
Celebrate Opposite Day by using a Visual Thesaurus to match words to their antonyms. They match a list of vocabulary words to their antonym counterparts using the Visual Thesaurus, and then they play Antonym Bingo with the words from...
EngageNY
Close Reading in Expert Groups: What is it Like in the Rainforest Canopy? (Pages 13–16)
Put it together piece by piece. Scholars read pages 13-16 of The Most Beautiful Roof in the
World by dividing it into chunks. They analyze each chunk for gist and word meaning. Individuals then create a matching game by writing chunk...
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Multiple Meanings Game
Here is a simple activity that uses definition cards that match the appropriate words to their meaning. Pupils match the cards using vocabulary words from units of study. A very basic, but often useful, resource.
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Using a Dictionary: Root Words
A dictionary is a very helpful tool. Teach your third graders how to locate words, define them, and understand what root words are. They look up 12 words, write their definitions, then determine the root word that helps categorize each...
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Appropriate Words or Expressions in Context
In this entertaining presentation, middle school students consider a variety of ways to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate words and expressions by looking at context clues. After going over some strategies, students take...
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Definitions by Context
Use this two-page resource either with your English language learners or your upper elementary native speakers. There are eight questions that test your learners' ability to use the context of a sentence to define an unknown word....
K12 Reader
St. Patrick’s Day Words
A St. Patrick's Day-themed worksheet invites young leprechauns to match the word with its meaning by writing the corresponding letter in the blank. There are 10 words and definitions that are connected to Ireland. Lastly, pupils are...
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Guide Word Sentences
Learners write sentences using dictionary guide words, putting two guide words from the same page in the same sentence. They demonstrate creative-writing and vocabulary skills to write sentences using dictionary guide words.
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Inferring Vocabulary Meaning
Explore the meaning of unknown words! Read All I See with your class, having them complete the inference chart provided while reading. They select unknown words, guess their meanings, and identify what other words or pictures helped them...
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Confused and Misused Words and Phases
This grammar lesson will definitely help your students ace the next skills evaluation. Provided are several examples of words that are commonly misused, confused, or misspelled. Five different strategies are given to help students avoid...
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Mythological Word Origins
Review myths and the characters therein, connecting them to vocabulary words in the English language today. Begin by searching online for myths and character names. With at least ten names that are familiar English words, students use...