Vocabulary in Context 2nd Grade Unit

This is a four-lesson unit on Vocabulary in Context, designed for second grade.  The lesson topics are: prefixes, context clues, glossary, and dictionary.  Lessons 2 and 3 utilize the nonfiction text The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin, by Bobbie Kalman.  Lesson 4 relies on the fiction book The Mitten, by Jan Brett. Within this unit you can teach specific vocabulary strategies (prefixes, context clues, using glossaries and dictionaries), focus on an informational text feature (glossary), and reinforce grade-level science content (life cycles). In order to access some lesson materials you will need to register with this site, but registration is free.

Standards & Objectives

Academic standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.3
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5
Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.2.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.2.4
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.10
By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 2-3 text...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.5
Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.7
Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.9
Compare and contrast the most important points presented by two texts on the same topic.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories and poetry, in the grades 2-3 text complexity band proficiently, with...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.2
Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.5
Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.7
Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.1
Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.2
Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.3
Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to clarify comprehension, gather additional information, or deepen understanding of a...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.4
Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.6
Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification. (See grade 2 Language...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.5
With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.7
Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).
GLE 0201.1.1
Demonstrate control of basic English usage, mechanics, spelling, and sentence structure.
GLE 0201.1.2
Employ a variety of strategies to decode words and expand vocabulary.
GLE 0201.2.1
Develop critical listening skills essential for comprehension, problem solving, and task completion.
GLE 0201.2.2
Develop critical speaking skills essential for effective communication.
GLE 0201.6.3
Interpret the graphics that support informational texts.
GLE 0201.8.1
Explore and experience various literary genres.
GLE 0201.8.2
Employ a variety of basic reading comprehension strategies.
GLE 0201.8.3
Develop reading fluency and accuracy.
GLE 0207.4.1
Compare the life cycles of various organisms.
TSS.ELA.2.FL.F.5
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
TSS.ELA.2.FL.PWR.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills when decoding isolated words and in connected text.
TSS.ELA.2.FL.SC.6
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking and conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including...
TSS.ELA.2.FL.VA.7a
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of...
TSS.ELA.2.FL.VA.7b
Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
TSS.ELA.2.FL.VA.7c
Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using adjectives and adverbs to describe.
TSS.ELA.2.RI.IKI.7
Identify and explain how illustrations and words contribute to and clarify a text.
TSS.ELA.2.RI.KID.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
TSS.ELA.2.RI.KID.2
Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within a text.
TSS.ELA.2.RI.RRTC.10
Read and comprehend stories and informational texts throughout the grades 2-3 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding at the high end as needed.
TSS.ELA.2.RL.IKI.7
Use information gained from illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
TSS.ELA.2.RL.KID.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
TSS.ELA.2.RL.KID.2
Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
TSS.ELA.2.RL.RRTC.10
Read and comprehend stories and poems throughout the grades 2-3 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding at the high end as needed.
TSS.ELA.2.SL.CC.1
Participate with varied peers and adults in collaborative conversations in small or large groups about appropriate 2nd grade topics and texts.
 
Alignment of this item to academic standards is based on recommendations from content creators, resource curators, and visitors to this website. It is the responsibility of each educator to verify that the materials are appropriate for your content area, aligned to current academic standards, and will be beneficial to your specific students.
 
Learning objectives: 

Learning Goal:

  • Use the meaning of prefixes in unknown words to determine their meaning.
  • Use the sentences before and after an unknown word to determine its meaning.
  • Use a glossary to determine the meaning of an unknown word.
  • Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unknown words in a text.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Differentiation suggestions: 

Different Tips:

  • Provide visuals of prefixes that explain their meaning. For example, provide a picture of a happy face with the word “happy” and a picture of a sad face with the word “unhappy”.
  • Create a visual of three examples of using sentences around an unknown word to determine its meaning. The first example can be a sentence that includes the word’s definition. The second example can be a sentence with an appositive. The third example can give the reader information, but require the reader to draw a conclusion about the meaning of the word. All three examples are provided in the text Emperor Penguin by Bobbie Kalman.
  • Clarify for students why some words are not in the glossary. For example, if the author explained the word in the sentences surrounding the word, then he chose not to put the word in the glossary.
  • Provide students with a copy of the glossary in the book so that they can use it as a reference.
  • Create guidelines for students to refer to when choosing the most appropriate dictionary definition for given words. For example: Make sure you found and read all the entries for the word. Choose the dictionary meaning that best matches the part of speech and context in which the word is used. Reread the sentence in the text and decide if the definition makes sense in context.

Helpful Hints

Necessary Materials

Provided: 

  • Example Chart for Direct Teaching
  • Guided Practice for Lesson 1
  • Independent Practice Worksheet

Not Provided: 

  • chart paper
  • markers 
  • The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin by Bobbie Kalman 
  • The Mitten by Jan Brett
  • dictionary

References

Contributors: