Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase

General

In this lesson, students will learn about context clues, literal and nonliteral meanings, and idioms.

Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5a

Learning objective

Students will be able to use context clues to tell the meaning of a word.

Introduction

Students will share how they figure out the meanings of unknown words. They will look at an example of using context clues to figure out the word, "colossal," in this sentence: "The colossal ice cream sundae was more than the three of us could eat!"

Instruction

Students will read a sentence and decide which words helped them figure out the meaning of the unknown word. They will also read a few potentially unknown words, such as "corridor" and "somber," and match these words to pictures.

Students will then discuss what it means when words or phrases have literal and nonliteral meanings. Students will show thumbs-up or thumbs-down to indicate if a sentence is literal or nonliteral. They will complete more activities about literal and nonliteral sentences.

Students will also be introduced to idioms, such as, "The new phone cost an arm and a leg."

Quiz

Review literal and nonliteral meanings, context clues, and idioms with these 10 questions.

Closing

Have students recall what they learned about context clues and literal and nonliteral meanings. Close the lesson with a nonsense word activity. Students will read the passage about a birthday and match the nonsense words with pictures based on context clues.

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