Integrated Vocabulary and Critical Thinking

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Objective

SWBAT use contextual clues to understand the meaning of a word and determine the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words .

Big Idea

Reviewing and re-teaching vocabulary is a good use of instructional time.

Lesson Author

SiriNam Khalsa

Springfield, MA

Grade Level

Ninth grade

Subjects

English / Language Arts

Standards

L.9-10.4

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9-10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

L.9-10.4a

Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Activator

10 minutes

Substitute Teacher's Lesson

I knew I was not going to be in class for this lesson. Instead of a formally written lesson plan, I leave a "sub folder" with a list of instructions as well as the learning material for my students. I wrote this lesson on vocabulary and contextual clues because I think as my students read more advanced texts such as the short stories in this unit, they need vocabulary instruction to learn the meanings of words that are not yet a part of their oral vocabulary and how to find the meaning of unknown words using contextual clues.

For the activator, I explain to my students that everything they are given today will be collected, given to me, and graded. The more actively and deeply my students process words, the better they learn them. They are asked to next write the definition for "context clues." A group share will follow with the accurate definition.

Student Learning Activity

60 minutes

Students are given a choice of two "packets" to complete. If they complete one before the end of the class period they can begin working on the second packet. One packet focuses on contextual clues, L.9-10.4a, and the other on vocabulary and critical thinking skills.