9/11 Notes
Aim: Understanding Context Clues
(overview of upcoming vocab project)
Do Now: Write the prefix Mal- in a circle. How
many words can you think of that begin with
Mal?
Mal-
VOCABULARY PROJECT
1. A “Do Now”
2. A Lesson (introducing words and definitions)
3. An activity
4. A quiz (for Friday)
Sample “Do Nows”
Do Now: The word “Pugnacious” means ready to
fight; aggressive. Create a visual (drawing) that
will help you remember the meaning of this
word.
The Pugnacious Pug?
Example of a lesson:
#1. A slideshow that uses each word in a sentence
and has a picture to accompany it.
In her expensive fur and jewels,
Kim is quite the ostentatious
dresser.
Ostentatious: showy; conspicuous in show to
impress others
Little did Psy know he would be the innovator of
the “horse move.”
Innovator: A person who introduces
something new.
#2. A story that uses all the words
Hyde put gloves on his hands
so that he would not adulterate
the solution. He made sure both hands were
covered because he was, after all, ambidextrous
and would be skillfully using them both!
Adulterate (v): to contaminate; make inferior
Ambidexterous (adj): able to use both hands
well
He was hoping that the potion he was working
on would augment his fame, propelling him to
stardom. An orphan, bereft of his parents and
siblings, perhaps Hyde longed for stardom
because he was lonely.
Augment: to make larger or increase
Bereft: deprived (of), especially by death
#3. A hands-on exhibition (for example, in which
you set up several stations with objects and
words and have students go around the room in
groups to see if they can connect the objects
and words)
(This would be a lesson AND activity)
Close up:
Acerbic: sour
or astringent
Illuminate:
to light up
Vanquish: to defeat
in contest or battle
(Inside the folded index card, you might have a hint or the answer)
#4. Other: Perhaps you have a unique idea for a
lesson? (For example, imagine if you handed out
fortune cookies with custom fortunes inside–
using vocab words, of course– and each
Person read his or hers.)
Torrid: hot, sultry
Your parsimony will pay
off, for you will one day
buy a Maserati!
Examples of Activities
• After showing a slideshow of words in
sentences with pictures, you might hand out a
fill-in-the-blank worksheet. For example:
Name: ___________
Directions: For each sentence, fill in the blank with the best vocabulary answer
choice from the word bank.
Word Bank:
Ostentatious
Innovator
W
bereft
augment
1. In her expensive fur and jewels, Kim is quite the
_______________ dresser.
2. Little did Psy know he would be the
_______________ of the “horse move.”
Examples of Activities
• You might create a crossword puzzle using
your words and the definitions. This can be
done at www.puzzlemaker.com.
Sample Quiz Questions
• Matching Questions
1) Ostentatious
a) deprived (of)
2) Augment
b) showy
3) Bereft
c) a person who
introduces something
new
1) Innovator
d) to increase
Example Quiz Questions
• Sentence-Completion Questions
1. A funeral is not an occasion for
_______________ attire but, rather, a time for
subdued, conservative clothing, such as a simple
suit.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Bibulous
Abstruse
Ostentatious
famished
What’s the answer to this question?
The horse was incredibly ________________.
a) Majestic
b) Hungry
c) Anxious
d) Wild
Context Clues
• Your sentence-completion questions must
have context clues.
• What is a “context Clue?”
Context clue: it’s a hint or clue about the
definition or meaning or an unknown word. The
hint can usually be found in a nearby or
surrounding part of the sentence.
Examples of context clues
• The horse was incredibly ____________,
having exercised all day without food.
a) Majestic
b) Hungry
c) ill
d) Wild
This context clue offers explanatory help.
Examples of context clues
The horse was incredibly ____________, the
grandest I’ve seen.
a) Majestic
b) Hungry
c) ill
d) Wild
By restating the way the horse is, using a synonym,
the writer is giving you a context clue.
Examples of Context Clues
The horse was incredibly ____________, not at
all the healthy mare she was a week ago.
a) Majestic
b) Hungry
c) Ill
d) Wild
Here, an antonym is offered as a context clue.
Examples of context clues
• The horse was incredibly ____________;
however, this was unusual for the old mare
who typically lacked energy.
Or
Even though she had been administered some
medicine to sedate her and prevent her from
hurting herself or others, the horse was still
incredibly ____________.
Write:
On an index card, please write your name. Then,
please write me a question using a context clue.
You may use any words or the same words I
have been using (majestic, hungry, ill, wild).