Lessons & Units :: Vocabulary in Context Kindergarten Unit

Lesson 1: Using Picture Cues to Read Unknown Words

Lesson Plan

From Head to Toe | 80L

From Head to Toe
Learning Goal
Use picture cues to read unknown words.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain that when we are reading, we may come to a word we do not know. We can use pictures to help us figure out the word. I will use From Head to Toe by Eric Carle (big book) to model how to use the pictures in a story to figure out unknown words. I will model using the pictures to figure out how to read the names of the first four animals in the book. For example, say: "The first picture shows an animal that is black and white and has flippers. I know that penguins are black and white and have flippers so maybe the first sentence says, 'I am a penguin.”' I can think about the word I don’t know by looking at the picture."

    TIP: To easily model the strategy, use a big book. Before teaching the lesson, cover one word per page that can easily be determined by the picture cues.

  • Think Check

    Ask: "How did I know the word was penguin?" Students should respond that you looked at the picture and thought about what would make sense.

  • Guided Practice

    will use picture cues to figure out how to read the names of the animals in the rest of the story. We will discuss how the picture helped us figure out the challenging words in the book.

  • Independent Practice

    will use pictures to read new vocabulary words for animals on the Independent Practice pages. Note: In order to accurately assess that students are using pictures to read unknown words, listen to each individual student read the sentence on each page of the Independent Practice. (Independent Practice is provided.)

Build Student Vocabulary bend

Tier 2 Word: bend
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story The giraffe can bend his neck.
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) To bend is to curve, twist, or turn. The giraffe’s neck becomes curved when he bends it.
Students repeat the word Say the word bend with me: bend.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts Watch me bend my arms. First they are straight, and then I bend them at the elbow. All of you are sitting with your legs bent at your knees.
Students provide examples What are some things you can bend? Tell me about it by saying, “You can bend a ____________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? bend
Additional Vocabulary Words raise, arch

Build Student Background Knowledge

Pause at the page with the seal clapping (pp. 9-10). Tell students that not many animals are known to clap, but seals do by using their flippers. Flippers are like hands, but the fingers are stuck together by a web of skin. Have students practice clapping with their fingers together, like a seal!

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

(To see all of the ReadWorks lessons aligned to your standards, click here.)

User Comments

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Submitted by Crutchfieldc_1087855 on 10/22/16

Thank you SO much! I will use this lesson with my Pre-K English language students tomorrow. We've already studied the spoken words for body parts, so this will help them make the connection to words on the page with the spoken word!

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