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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Acquiring new vocabulary through book discussion groups

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=170

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 English Language Arts

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This ReadWriteThink lesson explores various ways in which the teacher can foster students’ vocabulary skills through direct instruction and small-group discussions. While reading the text Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco, students identify words that are unfamiliar to them. Working collaboratively in small groups, they discuss the meaning of these new words using context clues from the text, prior knowledge, and print and online resources. They then apply their knowledge of the new vocabulary to further their understanding of the text.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
    • Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
      • wide reading.
      • word study.
      • listening.
      • discussion.
      • book talks.
      • book clubs.
      • seminars.
      • viewing.
      • role play.
      • studying author's craft.
    • Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., dictionary, glossary) to confirm decoding skills, verify spelling, and extend meanings of words.

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
    • Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
      • wide reading.
      • word study.
      • knowledge of homophones, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms.
      • knowledge of multiple meanings of words.
      • writing process elements.
      • writing as a tool for learning.
      • seminars.
      • book clubs.
      • discussions.
      • examining the author's craft.
    • Objective 1.05: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus) to identify and comprehend unknown words.

Grade 5

  • Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
    • Objective 1.03: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
      • wide reading.
      • word study.
      • word reference materials.
      • content area study.
      • writing process elements.
      • writing as a tool.
      • debate.
      • discussions.
      • seminars.
      • examining the author's craft.
    • Objective 1.04: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, on-line reference tools) to identify and comprehend unknown words.