Colorful Language: Expanding Vocabulary through Word Meaning

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Colorful Language Expanding Vocabulary through
Word Meaning

• By Sarah Currie
• C SC 1305-01
• Fall 2002

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Subject and Grade Level

• Language Arts/Reading
• Seventh Grade

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My Questions

• Essential Question
• How can I expand my vocabulary through reading?
• Unit Questions
• How can I tell what a word means in context?
• How can I use outside sources to find out what a
  word means?
• How can the origin of the word help me understand
  what the word means?

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Standards I Will Target

• (9) Reading/vocabulary development. The student
  acquires an extensive vocabulary through reading
  and systematic word study. The student is
  expected to
• (B)  draw on experiences to bring meanings to
  words in context such as interpreting figurative
  language idioms, multiple-meaning words, and
  analogies (6-8)
• (C)  use multiple reference aids, including a
  thesaurus, a synonym finder, a dictionary, and
  software, to clarify meaning and usage (4-8)
• (G)  use word origins as an aid to understanding
  historical influences on English word meanings
  (6-8).
• Source http//www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapt
  er110/ch110b.html

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My Unit Objectives

• Students will work collaboratively to produce a
  publication showing how to use context clues.
  This demonstration will include different forms
  of figurative language, such as similes,
  metaphors, idioms, and analogies.
• Students will create a PowerPoint showing how to
  find definitions or synonyms of unfamiliar words
  by use of outside sources such as a thesaurus,
  dictionary, or software program.
• Students will be able to build a website to aid
  in finding word origins and create explanations
  about how the word might have come into modern
  use.

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My Projects

• PowerPoint Using Outside Sources to Find Out
  Word Meanings
• Publication Learning Word Meanings in Context
• Website Using Word Origins to Enrich the Word
  Meaning