Classroom Resource

Human Dictionary

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

2

Overview

When reading, we all encounter unknown words at times. But how do we figure them out? In this lesson, students learn how to become a “human dictionary” by using a variety of strategies to figure out the meaning of unknown words. Students will be able to figure out the meaning of unknown words using various strategies and clues.

This lesson also offers a pre-lesson to help EL students.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.R3

Expand background knowledge and build vocabulary through discussion, reading, and writing.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.2.R3

Vocabulary

  • Background knowledge
  • Vocabulary
  • Discussion

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Relating experiences through discussions, writing, and reading will help build background knowledge and improve vocabulary.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Connect new concepts to prior experiences to increase background knowledge through discussions, reading, and writing.
  • Construct the meaning of words through discussions, reading, and writing.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Background knowledge can increase by relating experiences to new ideas, topics, and words while participating in discussions, reading, and writing.
  • Vocabulary will increase by constructing the meaning of words while participating in discussions, reading, and writing.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.15

Utilize new academic, content-specific, grade-level vocabulary, making connections to previously learned words and relating new words to background knowledge.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.2.15

Vocabulary

  • Utilize
  • Academic vocabulary
  • Content-specific vocabulary
  • Grade-level vocabulary
  • Connections
  • Relating
  • Background knowledge

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Academic, content-specific, grade-level vocabulary words.
  • Content-specific vocabulary refers to words used in different subjects learned in school such as reading, math, social studies, science.
  • New vocabulary words can be learned by relating them to previously learned words and background knowledge.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Use new academic, content-specific vocabulary by making connections to previously learned words.
  • Use new academic, content-specific vocabulary by relating new words to background knowledge.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Academic, content-specific vocabulary words are used in different school subjects, like reading, math, social studies, and science.
  • They can learn new vocabulary words by making connections to previously learned words or their background knowledge.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.19

Identify new vocabulary and the use of word meanings in text to establish real-life connections.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.2.19

Vocabulary

  • Vocabulary
  • Establish
  • Real-life connections

Knowledge

Students know:
  • New vocabulary they encounter in text can be used in their real life.
  • Real life means situations that they have experienced or will experience.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify vocabulary words learned through reading text and connect them to something they have personally experienced.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Making real-life connections to new vocabulary words, helps them move the new words to their long-term memory, becoming part of their "ready to use" vocabulary.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 2

ELA21.2.18

Use dictionary definitions and information found within the text to help determine meaning of unfamiliar or multi-meaning words.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.2.18

Vocabulary

  • Dictionary definitions
  • Unfamiliar
  • Multi-meaning words

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Words can have more than one meaning.
  • Dictionaries are reference books that can be used to find the meaning of unknown or multi-meaning words.
  • Context clues can help determine the meaning of unknown or multi-meaning words.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Use dictionaries (or glossaries in the back of their books) to locate the meanings of unfamiliar or multi-meaning words.
  • Use words within a text to help them determine the meaning of an unfamiliar or multi-meaning words.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The text around a word can provide clues about the meaning of an unfamiliar or multi-meaning word.
  • They can use reference books, such as a dictionary, to help them determine the meaning of an unknown or multi-meaning word.
  • To comprehend a text, they must use strategies to understand the meaning of vocabulary words.
Link to Resource
https://www.education.com/lesson-plan/human-dictionary/

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

education.com
Accessibility

Accessibility

Text Resources: Content is organized under headings and subheadings
License

License Type

Custom

Custom License Type (URL)

https://www.education.com/terms-of-use/?cid=11.2194

Comments or Notes

Education.com does not require you to register with them to simply visit, and view the website, but does require you to create a free account to use any services or download any materials. 

Approved Date

yvetteakridge
ALSDE LOGO

This site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THIS SITE.
Alabama Learning Exchange © 2002-2023 by Alabama State Department of Education is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Design by Adaptive Theme