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Word Detective

  • Grade 1
  • English Language Arts
  • L.1.4
  • Language
  • Free lesson

Aligned to L.1.4 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

What this lesson teaches

When we meet a new word, we look for clues. The other words around it help us find the meaning.

Worked examples

Example 1

"The puppy was tiny, so small it fit in a cup." The clue "fit in a cup" tells us tiny means very small.

Example 2

'The path was narrow, only wide enough for one person.' The clue tells us narrow means not wide.

Example 3

Look for 'or' and commas. 'The pup was timid, or shy' hands you the meaning directly.

Practice questions

  1. Find a word you are not sure about.
  2. Look at the words nearby for a clue.
  3. Guess what the new word means.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

▶ Watch this lesson

En español

Detective de Palabras

Cuando encontramos una palabra nueva, buscamos pistas. Las otras palabras alrededor nos ayudan a hallar el significado.

Ejemplo 1: "El perrito era diminuto, tan pequeño que cabía en una taza." La pista "cabía en una taza" nos dice que diminuto significa muy pequeño.

Ejemplo 2: 'El camino era angosto, apenas del ancho de una persona.' La pista nos dice que angosto significa no ancho.

Ejemplo 3: Busca la coma y la palabra 'o'. 'El cachorro era tímido, o miedoso' te entrega el significado directo.

More Language lessons

Sentence Conventions & VocabularyL.1.1Big Letters and DotsL.1.2Words That Go TogetherL.1.5New Words to UseL.1.6

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