• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Synonyms). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which word means the SAME as "smart"? (clever / foolish / humble / tidy) → cleverPrompt: A synonym has the same or nearly the same meaning.
2. Which word is closest in meaning to "vast"? (cramped / immense / sturdy / ancient) → immensePrompt: One of the choices means the opposite. Don't be tricked!
3. Choose the word that best fits the clue in brackets. We had a ___ day at the beach. (great) (dreadful / boring / wonderful / wet) → wonderfulPrompt: Read the clue in brackets carefully.

• Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
• Share the objective: Using context clues. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Use the clues in the sentence. What does the word in brackets mean? The room was so dim that we could hardly see. (dim)
• Step 1: Context clues are hints in the sentence that help you work out a word's meaning.
• Step 2: So the answer is: not bright
• Answer: not bright
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Use the clues in the sentence. What does the word in brackets mean? The cake was enormous; it filled the whole table. (enormous) (very cold / very sweet / very old / very big) → very bigPrompt: Look at the other words in the sentence. What do they tell you?
2. Use context clues. What does the word in brackets most likely mean? His explanation was so convoluted that nobody could follow it. (convoluted) (brief / accurate / complicated / funny) → complicatedPrompt: Look for signal words: unlike, despite, so…that, a colon or dash that explains.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Use context clues. What does the word in brackets most likely mean? Despite the ominous dark clouds, the picnic stayed dry. (ominous) (beautiful / fluffy / harmless / threatening) → threateningPrompt: Look for signal words: unlike, despite, so…that, a colon or dash that explains.
2. Use the clues in the sentence. What does the word in brackets mean? Grandpa is very frugal; he never wastes money and always looks for bargains. (frugal) (forgetful / careful with money / very rich / very generous) → careful with moneyPrompt: Look at the other words in the sentence. What do they tell you?

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