English lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 60 minutes
Multiple-meaning words: 'most nearly means' in context
Vocabulary
CCSS L.9-10.4.ACCSS RI.9-10.4England: SAT Reading and Writing (Words in Context)England: ACT ReadingEngland: GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q2
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Multiple-meaning words: 'most nearly means' in context.
- 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: Context clues: working out meaning from the whole passage; Words with more than one meaning
Leads to: High-utility SAT words (set A): corroborate, mitigate, pragmatic…
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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Context clues: working out meaning from the whole passage; Words with more than one meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? She will park the car outside. (park) (a green area for playing / a garden / a sports ground / leave a vehicle somewhere) → leave a vehicle somewherePrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
- Read the whole sentence. What does the word in capitals most likely mean? The puppy was INCORRIGIBLE: no matter how often we trained him, he stole socks from the washing basket. (very small / sleepy / well behaved / impossible to correct or change) → impossible to correct or changePrompt: There is no direct definition here. What is happening in the rest of the sentence?
- Read the whole sentence. What does the word in capitals most likely mean? The city's population has BURGEONED, doubling in just ten years. (fallen sharply / stayed the same / grown rapidly / moved away) → grown rapidlyPrompt: Look for what happens next or what causes what: these are your clues.
Hook · 6 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Multiple-meaning words: 'most nearly means' in context. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: As used in the sentence, the word in capitals most nearly means: The old warehouse will HOUSE the new art collection.
- Step 1: Many words have several meanings; context tells you which one the writer intends.
- Step 2: So the answer is: contain
- Answer: contain
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Is the proposed answer correct? The old warehouse will HOUSE the new art collection. → decorate (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: The most common meaning of the word is often a trap. Read the whole sentence.
- As used in the sentence, the word in capitals most nearly means: The proposal was met with a COOL reception from the council. (fashionable / unenthusiastic / calm / cold in temperature) → unenthusiasticPrompt: The most common meaning of the word is often a trap. Read the whole sentence.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- As used in the sentence, the word in capitals most nearly means: The volunteers' efforts BORE fruit when the river was finally cleaned. (tolerated / bored / produced / carried) → producedPrompt: The most common meaning of the word is often a trap. Read the whole sentence.
- Is the proposed answer correct? After the coach left, Leila ASSUMED the role of captain. → took on (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: The most common meaning of the word is often a trap. Read the whole sentence.
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: Context clues: working out meaning from the whole passage.
- 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
- Move on to: High-utility SAT words (set A): corroborate, mitigate, pragmatic….
- 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-9.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder