• 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 "gift"? (present / storm / ladder / debt) → presentPrompt: A synonym has the same or nearly the same meaning.
2. Which word is closest in meaning to "vacant"? (gloomy / occupied / fierce / empty) → emptyPrompt: One of the choices means the opposite. Don't be tricked!
3. Choose the word that best fits the clue in brackets. The mouse ___ across the floor. (ran quickly and lightly) (strolled / crawled / scurried / stomped) → scurriedPrompt: 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 water was so murky that we couldn't see the fish. (murky) (very deep / crystal clear / freezing cold / cloudy and dark) → cloudy and darkPrompt: 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? Lena was ambivalent about moving: excited by the new school but sad to leave her friends. (ambivalent) (uninterested / totally angry / having mixed feelings / completely sure) → having mixed feelingsPrompt: 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 the clues in the sentence. What does the word in brackets mean? The puppy was so famished that it ate two bowls of food in a minute. (famished) (very small / very sleepy / very dirty / very hungry) → very hungryPrompt: 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? The teacher's admonition — "Never run near the pool!" — made us slow down. (admonition) (reward / joke / warning / question) → warningPrompt: Look for signal words: unlike, despite, so…that, a colon or dash that explains.

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