![]() |
Click HERE to download the freebies! |
I almost always start my ELA units with a PowerPoint presentation to introduce the topic. Therefore, on the first day I would show my Context Clues PowerPoint to my students, and this lesson would occur on the second day of the context clues unit. To start this lesson, I would use an anchor chart to review the five main types of context clues.
After distributing a white board, marker, and eraser to each student, I would present five plastic cups by spreading them across a table or chalkboard tray. As you can see, the cups have been labeled with the five types of context clues, and each cup is assigned a number. I also have the small strips of cardstock printed and cut apart. These strips contain short sentences with underlined words.
- I will place one of the strips beneath a document camera and read the sentence aloud.
- Students will attempt to use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word. They will jot down a simple definition on their white board. They will also document which type of context clue they used by writing a cup's number on their white board.
- Students will discuss their answers with a partner. If students wish to change their answer at this time, they can certainly do that.
- As a class, we will discuss the meaning of the word, and the type of context clue provided.**
- We will drop the sentence strip into one of the cups.
After we work through all fourteen sentence strips, I conclude the lesson by having students add a context clues page to their interactive notebooks. Students glue the title and the magnifying glasses into their notebooks, and then they write their own sentences that show examples of each of the five types of context clues.
If you have time, hop over to my blog, where I explain how I use two published books to further analyze how context clues are used in books.
If you are looking for additional resources for teaching context clues to your upper elementary students, feel free to check out the following resources. I have placed my bundle images here, but all of these items are also available for individual purchase.
A Context Clues Bundle designed especially for students in
2nd and 3rd grade:
A Context Clues Bundle designed especially for students in
4th, 5th, and 6th grade:
Thanks for stopping by today!
Pin for future reference: