Go back See all

    Word Detectives

    from

    Subject: ELA (English Language Arts), ESL/ELL (English Language Learning)

    Lesson Length: 30 - 45 mins

    Topic: Context Clues

    Grade Level: 3, 4, 5, 6

    Standards / Framework:

     

    Brief Description: Students will practice using context clues to determine the meaning of an unknown word.

    Know Before You Start: This lesson can be used as an introduction to context clues or a review.

    Hook:

    • Read and discuss the first two panels of the comic. Remind students that they can use context clues to help figure out the meaning of unknown words.

    Activity:

    • Have students read panels three through six. 

    • Independently or with a partner, have students look for the context clues in order to define the vocabulary words shown in all CAPS.

    • You may choose to model using sentence frames that are applicable for your students’ language level, e.g., "The clue _____ tells me that ____ means _______."

    • Have students choose a vocabulary word and create a comic panel that includes a context clue. They may choose words from a dictionary that no one would be able to guess without context clues.

    Closure:

    • Encourage students to use context clues while they're reading to determine the meaning of unknown words.

    Differentiation:

    • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
    • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
    • Adapt the sentences to be more or less complex as needed.

    Resources:

    • Comic to print or display: Comic.

    • Online or print dictionaries for the extension activity.

    Suggested Content Packs:

    Related Ideas

    Father's Day

    Students can create the perfect Fathers’ Day card, incorporating an avatar of themselves and their father or guardian as well as a message to express how much this family member means to them.

    Mothers' Day

    Use this activity to introduce students to the history of Mother's Day while creating the perfect Mother's Day card. Students will incorporate an avatar of themselves and their mother or guardian as they express how much their mothers mean to them.

    Conjunctions

    Students will practice using conjunctions to combine sentences.