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43 Building Vocabulary Skills

Page
233
from
Write on Track

Building Vocabulary Skills Opening Page

Start-Up Activity

On the board, write the word "pimento" and the word "sardine." Ask students if they know what these words mean, and if they do, have them give definitions. Then ask them to find a pimento and a sardine in the picture of the sandwich on page 233. (The pimento is the red pepper and the red dots in the green olives in the slice of meat, and the sardine is the fish lying under the bun.) Now that students have learned the words "pimento" and "sardine," they can recognize them, call them by name, and maybe even put them in a sandwich (or not!).

Help students understand that building vocabulary gives them power. By learning these two words, they suddenly can recognize something they've never paid attention to before. Vocabulary opens the world to readers, speakers, and writers. Tell students they are about to learn many strategies to help build their vocabulary.

Think About It

“Vocabulary is a matter of word-building as well as word-using.”

—David Crystal

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.C

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.A

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.D

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.B

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.C

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.3.RF.3.3

LAFS.3.RI.2.4

LAFS.3.RL.2.4

LAFS.3.L.3.4

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.5.b.2

110.5.b.2.A.v

110.5.b.2.A.vi

110.5.b.2.A.i

110.5.b.2.A.ii

110.5.b.3

110.5.b.3.B

110.5.b.3.A

110.5.b.3.C

LA 3.1.5.a

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 234 from Write on Track

Learning New Words

The next six pages introduce seven strategies for learning new words. Review the first two strategies on page 234. Give extra attention to using context. Use the example sentences from the page to demonstrate the concept.

Additionally, you can use this word-clue activity to help students guess at definitions of new words.

  • Predators, which hunt other animals for food, often have sharp teeth. (Predators are animals that hunt other animals; the definition is given after the word.)
  • Listening to Latin American music makes me want to dance the salsa. (Salsa is Latin American dance music; the words in the definition appear in the sentence.)
  • Dolphins, whales, and sea lions are marine mammals. (Marine refers to the ocean; dolphins, whales, and sea lions live in the ocean.)
Downloads:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.3.RF.3.3
TEKS Standard:
110.5.b.2
NE ELA Standard:
LA 3.1.2, LA 3.1.3

Related Resource Tags

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Level:
Grade 3
21st Century Skills:
Building Vocabulary
English Language Arts:
Precise Words

Page 235 from Write on Track

3. Keep a new-word notebook.

Encourage students to reserve a place in their notebook for new vocabulary words. Have them record new words, define them, and use them in a sentence, either in writing or out loud.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.3.RF.3.3
TEKS Standard:
110.5.b.2
NE ELA Standard:
LA 3.1.2, LA 3.1.3

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 3
21st Century Skills:
Building Vocabulary
English Language Arts:
Precise Words

Page 236 from Write on Track

5. Look up the word in a dictionary.

When students are unsure of the meaning of a word, they can find its definition in a dictionary. But dictionaries provide much more than just definitions. Have volunteers read about the other types of information found in a dictionary. Make sure students know where they can find print dictionaries in your classroom. (You may also wish to demonstrate how to use an online dictionary.)

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.3.RF.3.3
TEKS Standard:
110.5.b.2
NE ELA Standard:
LA 3.1.2, LA 3.1.3

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 3
21st Century Skills:
Building Vocabulary

Page 237 from Write on Track

Sample Dictionary Page

Remind students that dictionaries organize words in ABC (alphabetical) order. Have them review the sample dictionary page, searching for answers to these questions:

  • What part of speech is the word hawthorn? (noun)
  • What is are the definitions of havoc? (terrible damage; confusion or chaos)
  • How many syllables are in the word hayloft? (two)

If your classroom has a set of dictionaries, have students search them to find the elements on this page. (They can refer to page 236 for an explanation of each type of information.)

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.3.RF.3.3
TEKS Standard:
110.5.b.2
NE ELA Standard:
LA 3.1.2, LA 3.1.3

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 3
21st Century Skills:
Building Vocabulary

Page 238 from Write on Track

6. Use a thesaurus.

Students can use a thesaurus to find new ways of saying things. Review "Look for the Right Word" with your students. Ask them to use the sample thesaurus entry to find an alternative for the word hit in the unfinished sentence: Josie __________ the ball over the shortstop's head. 

For practice, have students look up the word run in a thesaurus, find three synonyms for it, and write a sentence using each one. 

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.3.RF.3.3
TEKS Standard:
110.5.b.2
NE ELA Standard:
LA 3.1.2, LA 3.1.3

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 3
21st Century Skills:
Building Vocabulary
English Language Arts:
Precise Words

Page 239 from Write on Track

7. Learn about word parts.

Use this page to introduce students to the three types of word parts.

  • A root is the main part of a word. This part is also called the word base.
  • A prefix comes before the root and changes its meaning.
  • A suffix comes after the root and changes its meaning.

Use the example word unicyclist to show how the parts work together to form words. Then refer students to the list of common word parts on pages 241–249 to help them learn more about the parts.

 

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.3.RF.3.3
TEKS Standard:
110.5.b.2
NE ELA Standard:
LA 3.1.2, LA 3.1.3

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 3
21st Century Skills:
Building Vocabulary