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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Dictionary guide words: is the word on this page?

Vocabulary

CCSS L.3.2.GCCSS L.3.4.DEngland: Y3/4 Reading (using a dictionary)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Dictionary guide words: is the word on this page?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Alphabetical order to the second and third letter

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Alphabetical order to the second and third letter). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which word comes FIRST in a dictionary? (chess / chunk / chair / chin) → chairPrompt: Compare the words letter by letter until they are different.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Dictionary guide words: is the word on this page?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: The guide words at the top of a dictionary page are "plaza" and "plug". Which word would you find on this page?
  • Step 1: "plaza" < "plenty" < "plug" in alphabetical order.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: plenty
  • Answer: plenty
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. The guide words at the top of a dictionary page are "cage" and "camel". Which word would you find on this page? (cable / cabin / calf / camera) → calfPrompt: Guide words show the first and last word on the page.
  2. Guide words: "plaster" — "plaza". Would "pluck" be on this page? (yes, on this page / no, on an earlier page / no, on a later page) → no, on a later pagePrompt: Compare "pluck" with "plaster" letter by letter.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Guide words: "plaza" — "plug". Would "plump" be on this page? (yes, on this page / no, on an earlier page / no, on a later page) → no, on a later pagePrompt: Compare "plump" with "plaza" letter by letter.
  2. The guide words at the top of a dictionary page are "shark" and "shelf". Which word would you find on this page? (shape / shield / shell / sheet) → sheetPrompt: Guide words show the first and last word on the page.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Alphabetical order to the second and third letter.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Dictionary guide words: is the word on this page?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Guide words: "canvas" — "card". Would "car" be on this page?

    • A. yes, on this page
    • B. no, on an earlier page
    • C. no, on a later page

  2. Question 2

    The guide words at the top of a dictionary page are "canal" and "cape". Which word would you find on this page?

    • A. camp
    • B. captain
    • C. camera
    • D. candle

  3. Question 3

    Guide words: "plate" — "plenty". Would "plug" be on this page?

    • A. yes, on this page
    • B. no, on an earlier page
    • C. no, on a later page

  4. Question 4

    The guide words at the top of a dictionary page are "sharp" and "shell". Which word would you find on this page?

    • A. shark
    • B. shape
    • C. share
    • D. shelf

  5. Question 5

    Guide words: "shallow" — "sharp". Would "ship" be on this page?

    • A. yes, on this page
    • B. no, on an earlier page
    • C. no, on a later page

  6. Question 6

    The guide words at the top of a dictionary page are "cake" and "camera". Which word would you find on this page?

    • A. cage
    • B. camel
    • C. cable
    • D. camp

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Answer key: Dictionary guide words: is the word on this page?

  1. 1. A. yes, on this page

  2. 2. D. candle

  3. 3. C. no, on a later page

  4. 4. D. shelf

  5. 5. C. no, on a later page

  6. 6. B. camel