Middle schoolers develop strategies for what to do when they come upon words in a text that they don't know. After a class discussion, pupils are given a selection of text that contains some very difficult words. They are instructed to...

Look it up. Scholars use a dictionary and thesaurus to verify the meaning of the research vocabulary words they defined in the previous activity. They then use sticky notes to write a synonym for each word. Finally, individuals choose a...

Here is a lesson which may be best suited for a library science teacher, or one that can be done by a regular teacher when in the library. In it, learners explore the best ways to use print and electronic resources to find information...

Teach your class to recognize words that begin with the prefix "un-." In a series of activities, kids write words and underline the prefix, add "un-" to words and record the new meaning, identify real and made-up words beginning with...

In this worksheet on using a dictionary, students review the purpose of and how to use a dictionary. Students read about the dictionary entry "fly" and simple associated dictionary skills, then use the word in 2 original sentences....

In this fruits and vegetables dictionary worksheet, young scholars fill in "dictionary pages," using guide words on each page and a list of words given at the bottom of the page.

In this language arts worksheet, learners improve spelling and alphabetizing skills. Students analyze 25 incorrectly spelled words and correct them. Learners write the dictionary meanings for 12 words and find words pertaining to 5...

Students follow along as they read chapters in the book The Mouse and the Motorcycle. They work with a partner and choose 5 objects to measure when the class does the measuring activity. Students make a picture dictionary using at...

In this adverbs practice worksheets, students use their dictionary skills as they look up 10 adverbs and record the definition for each of them

In this adverbs practice worksheets, learners use their dictionary skills as they look up 10 adverbs and record the definition for each of them

Students create picture dictionaries to encourage the development of letter-sound recognition. In this alphabet project, students cut out pictures from magazines and glue them onto tagboard, and then write the name of the picture below...

Accessing Web sites and playing interactive word games enliven the study of Greek, Latin and Anglo-Saxon roots and affixes. Alas, the link to resources appears broken. Take some time to find game links.  

Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori presents a vivid picture of Japanese culture and history. As kids read through the third chapter, they find novel-specific vocabulary to enhance their understanding and use context clues to...

Help your pupils discover the power of context clues by teaching the this vocabulary strategy. Designed to go with words from Willa Cather's My Antonia, this exercise focuses on having individuals use their own words to define new...

In this dictionary use worksheet, students find the definitions of 5 words. They answer multiple choice questions that show they know the meaning of taciturn, ricotta, dust jacket, palindrome, and labyrinth.

Bilateral suborbital hematoma? Call an audible? 404? Have fun with “the twittering or warbling of birds,” or as 14th century French speakers would say, have fun with “jargon.” Groups match specialized jargon with plain speech, decode...

An activity promotes reading comprehension. Readers analyze a text of their choice while activating prior knowledge and asking and answering questions. Scholars enforce multiple strategies to improve comprehension.

You shouldn't miss out on an opportunity to review should, shouldn't, ought to, had better, and had better not! Elementary and middle schoolers view a slideshow presentation that focuses on usage rules and examples for...

This worksheet explores the triple blend, 'scr'. First, learners use the given word dial to create different words starting with 'scr'. Next, they copy and complete 8 different sentences. Lastly, the class copies 4 yes or no questions...

Similes and metaphors are the focus of a poetry lesson complete with two exercises. Scholars read poetry excerpts, underline comparative phrases, then identify whether it contains a simile or metaphor. They then write five...

You don't have to slay the dragon in this activity. Young writers review poetic devices with a set of worksheets about alliteration and similes. Once they finish waxing poetic about their dragon friends, they craft a final...

A Reading Closely: Guiding Questions handout leads readers to discover the gist of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. While reading, pupils look closely at the words in the text and discuss their meaning. They use dictionaries when needed to answer...

Middle schoolers use a reader's dictionary to locate words they do not know in chapter 6 of A Long Walk to Water. They then turn attention to gist and work on a Salva/Nya anchor chart to record what happens to the characters....

Look it up. Scholars read Florida: A Paradise of Scandals Excerpt 1 and use a dictionary to look up any unfamiliar words. They then do a close read of the text and answer text-dependent questions. Learners analyze author perspective by...