Using Context Clues to Figure Out Unknown Words
About this lesson
Children read sentences that each contain a tricky word. In pairs, they hunt for nearby clue words that reveal its meaning, then share their guesses with the class. They practise working out new vocabulary while reading. You need five sentences written on the board and some scrap paper. It takes about 12 minutes.
- Grade
- 4
- Subject
- ELA
- Time
- 12 min
- Prep
- 5 min
Objective
Students will use clue words within a sentence to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word and explain which clue helped them.
Prep
5 min: write 5 sentences on the board, each with one tricky word underlined (e.g. 'The parched dog drank the whole bowl of water in seconds.')
Materials
- whiteboard and marker
- scrap paper
- pencils
Steps
- Read the first sentence aloud. Model your thinking: 'The dog drank a whole bowl in seconds, so parched must mean very thirsty. The clue words were drank and water.'
- Put students in pairs with one sheet of scrap paper. Ask them to write each underlined word, their best guess at its meaning, and the clue words that helped.
- Give pairs about 5 minutes to work through the remaining four sentences while you circulate and ask, 'Which words gave it away?'
- Call on a different pair for each sentence. Have them share their meaning and clue, then circle the clue words on the board as they speak.
- Close by asking, 'What can you do when you meet a word you don't know in your reading?' Collect two or three answers.
Quick Check
Write one new sentence with an underlined word. Each student whispers its meaning and the clue word to a partner, or writes them on a sticky note as an exit slip.
Differentiation
Make it easier: Use sentences where the meaning is stated almost directly, such as 'The enormous, or very big, elephant.'
Make it harder: Have pairs write their own sentence with a tricky word and strong clues for another pair to solve.
Good For
- Before lunch
- Supply teacher
- Review
- Morning warm-up
