1. READING SKILLS CONTEXT CLUES

2. Objectives:
To use academic vocabulary to aid interpretation of language and texts
To ask questions to identify context clues
To use context clues to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases while reading

3. TASK: That was a very good joke-an excellent jest indeed.
DEFINE the word JEST
How did you decide what the word JEST meant? EXPLAIN

4. TASK:
When we look back on this day, we will laugh about it. Yes, we will think this day was very _____________!
Fill in the BLANK with your word choice.
How did the first sentence help you decide what word to use?

5. Task: Write the definitions each underlined word based on sentence clues.
I am not quite understanding what you are saying, could you please clarify what you mean?
Your birth certificate will verify your date and place of birth.
I could tell what he meant by the context that surrounded his statement.

6. Write Word Meaning Example Sentence Clarify To make clearer
Could you please clarify what you mean?
Verify
To confirm
Your birth certificate will verify your date and place of birth
Context
The part of a text or statement that surrounds a word
I could tell what he meant by the context that surrounded his statement.

7. Questions to Consider Are there any words that mean the same thing?
Are there any words that mean the opposite?
Do other parts of the sentence give clues about how the word is used?
Is the word defined in another part of the sentence?
Is there another word I could put in place of the word to make the sentence clear?
Are there headings, pictures, or charts that help to clarify the meaning?

8. Question for discussion:
What sorts of clues are considered context clues?
How is using your context clues helpful?
Will you use context clues more often?

9. Task: Invent a MADE-UP word Invent a definition for your made-up word.
Write a paragraph containing the made-up word.
The word’s definition should be able to be guessed based on the context clues provided in the short paragraph.
Share your paragraph with another person.
Try to guess the definition.
Ask for people’s guesses
Explain the made-up words definition.

10. Question for discussion:
Was guessing the definition difficult?
Were the guesses accurate?

11. Context Clues Activity
Preview and Read “Your Favorite Drinks Can Wreck Your Body” in Scope Magazine
Use context clues to figure out the meaning of any unfamiliar word.
Fill in the chart as you read with at least 4 sentence/meaning/how I know
Sentence
Meaning
How I Know