English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes
Work out a new word from the sentence around it
Vocabulary
CCSS L.2.4.AEngland: Y2 Reading (vocabulary)England: KS1 SATs Reading
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Work out a new word from the sentence around it.
- 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: Define a word: what group, and what makes it special?
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Define a word: what group, and what makes it special?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the group word that completes the definition. A library is a ___ where you can borrow books. (place / tool / person / vehicle) → placePrompt: What kind of thing is it?
- Read the question. Which is the best definition of an owl? (it is nice / a bird / a bird that hunts at night / something with feathers) → a bird that hunts at nightPrompt: A good definition says the group AND something special.
- Choose the group word that completes the definition. A hammer is a ___ for banging in nails. (fruit / toy / vehicle / tool) → toolPrompt: What kind of thing is it?
Hook · 5 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Work out a new word from the sentence around it. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Use the clues in the sentence. The robot was able to hoist the heavy box high onto the shelf. What does "hoist" mean?
- Step 1: The other words in a sentence are clues to the meaning of a new word.
- Step 2: So the answer is: lift up
- Answer: lift up
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Use the clues in the sentence. The giggling children could not stop chuckling at the joke. What does "chuckling" mean? (crying / shouting / sleeping / laughing quietly) → laughing quietlyPrompt: Read the whole sentence. What else does it tell you?
- Use the clues to choose the right word. The kitten was (tiny / huge); it could fit in my hand. Type the word that fits. → tinyPrompt: Which words in the sentence give you a clue?
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Use the clues in the sentence. The tiny ant looked minuscule next to the elephant. What does "minuscule" mean? (very small / very loud / very fast / very old) → very smallPrompt: Read the whole sentence. What else does it tell you?
- Use the clues to choose the right word. The bag was too (heavy / light) for me to lift on my own. Type the word that fits. → heavyPrompt: Which words in the sentence give you a clue?
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: Define a word: what group, and what makes it special?.
- 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-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder