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    Word Detectives

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

    Resources:

    • Comic to print or display: Comic.

    • Online or print dictionaries for the extension activity.

    Suggested Content Packs:

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    Related Ideas

    Denotation and Connotation

    Understanding the difference between denotation, the strict meaning of a word, and connotation, the feeling the word conjures, can be challenging to wrap one’s head around. Visually demonstrate the difference for readers and writers.

    Prefixes

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