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PlayOwl

English · Grade 3

Vocabulary from Context and Morphology

Children become word detectives. Using an original adventure, The Cave of Echoes, they work out unknown words from context clues (definitions, examples, synonyms and antonyms), from word parts (prefixes, suffixes and base words), and by checking a dictionary or glossary. They also learn to tell literal from nonliteral meanings and to choose between words with shades of meaning.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 90 minutes
  • Word detective check: 8 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, put in order, sort into groups and arrange tiles
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What learners will discover

  • Use context clues (definition, example, synonym and antonym) in a sentence or paragraph to work out a word's meaning.
  • Use a known base word and its affixes to work out the meaning of a new word (comfort, uncomfortable, comfortably).
  • Use a glossary or dictionary, including guide words and multiple meanings, to check and clarify a word's meaning.
  • Tell literal from nonliteral meanings and choose among related words with shades of meaning (knew, believed, suspected).

Lessons

  1. Context clues 4 steps2 practiceabout 24 min
  2. Base words and affixes 4 steps2 practiceabout 22 min
  3. Dictionaries and glossaries 4 steps2 practiceabout 22 min
  4. Literal, nonliteral and shades of meaning 5 steps2 practiceabout 22 min
  5. Word detective check 8 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Memory LanternsFlip glowing lanterns to find pairs that belong together.
  • Word WorkshopBuild the word for each picture, one sound at a time.
  • Sentence TheatreYour words direct the show: change a word and the stage changes too.

More 3rd grade reading

Guides for grown-ups