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Context Clues Lesson Plan—Word Detectives Unlocking Word Meaning

Procedure: Tell students that they are going to be word detectives. Explain that when they come to a new word in their reading the first thing they should do is decide whether they have to know the word in order to get the meaning of the paragraph. As word detectives they may not have a case. If they can understand the meaning of the story or article without knowing a certain word, it’s okay to skip over that word and keep reading.

Tell them there is a way for word detectives to find the meaning of new words by themselves. Authors sometimes give clues called context clues. Context clues are hints that help readers discover the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Explain that context clues are words that come before or after the new word and that there are several different kinds of context clues. Write these words on the dry erase board, saying them and reviewing their meanings as you write.

1. definition 2. synonym 3. antonym 4. example 5. explanation Write these sentences on the dry erase board, underlining the unfamiliar words. Do not write the answers in parentheses.

The joey, which is a baby kangaroo, peeked out of his mother's pocket. (definition)

The beach was covered with debris like paper and cans, and the children picked up all the trash. (synonym)

The ancient dress looked like new after she washed it. (antonym)

Every day he brought a delectable, delicious, wonderful, yummy lunch to school. (example)

My mother used to pull across the bay to catch flounder. Pull is a word that is sometimes used to mean row. (explanation)

Ask students to identify the meaning of each new word and tell which kind of context clue the author used to unlock the word’s meaning. Write the correct answers after each sentence.

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Your friend Ryan has moved to a new country and is learning a new language. Read what he wrote in his diary and see if you can figure out the meaning to the underlined words. Dear Diary, I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of poof-poofs very quickly, and I almost missed the tramzam. When I got to school, I realized I had forgotten my zilgping . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very zoosh, and told me I could bring it tomorrow. After school, some friends and I played plingming. It’s a new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they only scored 5 points, so we were the zoiters! Dad says that next weekend we’re going to the fladder . I can’t wait! I love to swim and play in the sand. I hope I don’t get a sunburn though. Well, I better go to bed soon. I don’t want to wake up late again and miss my tramzam! Until tomorrow, Ryan                    

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             It’s  time  for  some  detective  work.    Take  each  word  from  Ryan’s  diary  that  is  written  in  his  new  language  and  use  the  context  clues  in  the  text  to  figure  them  out!    

• What  could  the  word  poof-­poofs  mean?  ►The  sentences  tell  me  it  is  something  that  can  be  eaten.    I  know  that  it  is  a  breakfast  food  because  Ryan  said  it  was  morning.    I  also  know  that  it  goes  in  a  bowl.    What  do  you  think  it  is?  ►The  most  logical  guess  would  be  a  type  of  cereal.    

• What  could  the  word  tramzam  mean?  ►The  sentences  tell  me  that  Ryan  was  going  to  school  and  he  almost  missed  his  tramzam.    What  do  you  think  it  is?  ►The  most  logical  guess  would  be  a  school  bus.    

• What  could  the  word  zilgping  mean?  ►The  sentences  tell  me  that  it  is  something  Ryan  needed  at  school.    I  also  know  that  it  is  ok  if  he  brings  it  tomorrow.  What  do  you  think  it  is?  ►The  most  logical  guess  would  be  Ryan’s  homework.    

• What  could  the  word  zoosh  mean?  ►The  sentences  tell  me  that  a  person  can  act  this  way  and  that  Ms.  Jutzi  is  being  kind  and  allowing  Ryan  to  bring  his  homework  the  next  day.  What  do  you  think  it  is?  ►The  most  logical  guess  would  be  friendly  or  understanding.    

• What  could  the  word  plingming  mean?  ►The  sentences  tell  me  it  is  a  game  Ryan  and  his  friends  play  against  each  other  and  that  points  can  be  scored.    What  do  you  think  it  is?  ►The  most  logical  guess  would  be  a  sport  such  as  basketball  or  soccer.    

• What  could  the  word  zoiters  mean?  ►The  sentences  tell  me  that  Ryan’s  team  scored  7  points  while  the  other  team  scored  less  points.    What  do  you  think  it  is?  The  most  logical  guess  would  be  that  it  means  winners.    

• What  could  the  word  fladder  mean?  ►The  sentences  tell  me  that  Ryan’s  dad  said  he  could  go  there  and  when  he  gets  there  they  will  swim  and  play  in  the  sand.    Ryan  also  mentions  not  wanting  a  sunburn.    What  do  you  think  it  is?  ►The  most  logical  guess  would  be  a  lake  or  a  beach.  

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 • And,  remember,  we  already  figured  out  the  word  tramzam  probably  means  

school  bus.        

"Susie's Puppy"

Unknown words: desired, determined, arrived, elated

Susie had always desired to have a puppy. She had wanted a

puppy since she was two years old! One day, her father told her that

he would buy her a new puppy if she completed all of her chores for

the week. Susie was determined to get her new puppy. She was

willing to do anything, even clean her brother's bedroom, so that she

could get that puppy. Susie cleaned her bedroom and the bathroom.

She dusted and vacuumed her entire house. She washed the dishes,

swept the kitchen, and cleaned the table. When Susie was finished

with her chores, she waited patiently for her father to come home.

When he arrived, he saw how clean the house was, and told Susie

how proud of her he was. Susie was elated when her father took her

to buy a new puppy the next morning. She was so happy that she

could not keep still the entire time she was in the car. She picked out

the cutest puppy she had ever seen!

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Tell students to use re-read the passage. Then tell them to work with a

partner. First make a prediction of what you think the work means. Then, use a

dictionary to find the real definition of the word, and check your prediction.

If time permits, read independently. In your book, find words that you do

not know and write them down on a piece of paper. Use context clues to make a

prediction of the words definition then use a dictionary to check your prediction.