---
title: Cognates
description: Students will notice cognates that exist in English and Spanish. These are words that are both visibly and audibly similar, and have the same meaning.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/cognates-001.png
---

**Subject: ESL/ELL (English Language Learning)**

**Lesson Length: 30 - 45 mins**

**Topic: Cognates, Vocabulary**

**Grade Level: 4, 5, 6**

**Standards / Framework: **

- [WIDA: STANDARD 2](https://wida.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/resource/WIDA-ELD-Standards-Framework-2020.pdf)
- [ACTFL: COMPARISON: LANGUAGE COMPARISON](https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/publications/standards/World-ReadinessStandardsforLearningLanguages.pdf)

**Brief Description:**  Students will notice cognates that exist in English and Spanish. These are words that are both visibly and audibly similar, and have the same meaning.

**Know Before You Start:** Be prepared with a list of [cognates](https://www.colorincolorado.org/sites/default/files/Cognate-List.pdf) as a reference.

**Hook:**

- Read and discuss the sample comic.
- Display several pictures that have cognates in both English and Spanish, e.g., fruit/fruta, family/familia, elephant/elefante.
- Explain that in English and Spanish some words look and sound alike, and they can also mean the same thing. 
- Have students work with a partner to think of other words that have cognates in both English and Spanish. 
- Join pairs together to discuss their ideas. Then, have groups share their list aloud. Record student responses on chart paper.

**Activity:**

- Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a comic in which they:  
    - Explain what a cognate is.
    - Give at least three examples of cognates in English and Spanish. 
- Challenge students to write sentences in both languages that use their chosen cognate.

**Closure:**

- Have students present their comics to a partner, a small group, or the whole class.

**Differentiation:**

- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
- Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
- Allow students to add cognates to their comic as they are learn throughout the school year. 
- Explore cognates within other languages as needed.

**Resources:**

- [Comic](https://share.pixton.com/qkwjpdf) to print or display
- List of [cognates](https://www.colorincolorado.org/sites/default/files/Cognate-List.pdf)

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1838241401767358464/thumbnail.png) Home ](https://content.pixton.com/home)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2047725165020577792/thumbnail.png) Rural ](https://content.pixton.com/rural)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2078817894448328704/thumbnail.png) Suburban ](https://content.pixton.com/suburban)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1976675054379450368/thumbnail.png) Urban ](https://content.pixton.com/urban)

Assign Activity

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