---
title: Word Detectives
description: Students will practice using context clues to determine the meaning of an unknown word.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/word_detectives-001.png
---

**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: **

- [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.A](https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf)
- [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.4.A](https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf)
- [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.4.A](https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf)
- [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.4.A](https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ELA_Standards1.pdf)
- [WIDA: STANDARD 2](https://wida.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/resource/WIDA-ELD-Standards-Framework-2020.pdf)

 

**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.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.

**Resources:**

- Comic to print or display: [Comic](https://share.pixton.com/qaozoxj).
- Online or print dictionaries for the extension activity.

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2078531110531739648/thumbnail.png) Middle School ](https://content.pixton.com/middle-school)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1723699725217173504/thumbnail.png) Office ](https://content.pixton.com/office)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2060411943154556928/thumbnail.png) Aztec Empire ](https://content.pixton.com/aztec-empire)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1665077371444895744/thumbnail.png) Airport ](https://content.pixton.com/airport)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1936106945435254784/thumbnail.png) Hotel ](https://content.pixton.com/hotel)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-frindle.png) Frindle ](https://content.pixton.com/frindle)

Assign Activity

## Related Ideas

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/code_it_define_it-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/code-it-define-it)

### [Code It and Define It](https://ideas.pixton.com/code-it-define-it)

In this lesson, students will define a coding term by describing and providing an example of it in context.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/prefixes-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/prefixes)

### [Prefixes](https://ideas.pixton.com/prefixes)

Students will create a comic informing others how to figure out the meaning of a new word using prefixes.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/super_suffixes-001-2.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/super-suffixes)

### [Super Suffixes](https://ideas.pixton.com/super-suffixes)

This lesson is intended to reinforce the idea of determining the meaning of words with suffixes. Students will create a comic to inform others how to figure out the meaning of a new word using suffixes.