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Introduce Vocabulary: Franklin Goes to the Hospital (Bourgeois)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Franklin the turtle is on another adventure in Paulette Bourgeois' book Franklin Goes to the Hospital, and there are plenty of new words for your young readers to explore as they hear this story. Although you can include more, you'll...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Froggy Goes to School (London)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Just like your budding readers may have felt, Froggy is nervous on his first day of school. Use Johnathan London's book Froggy Goes to School to practice vocabulary in context. Prior to reading the story aloud, pre-teach the new words...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: George's Store at the Shore (Bassede)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Combine counting and vocabulary using Francine Bassede's book George's Store at the Shore, which has learners exploring new words and numbers 1-10. Suggested words for this text are: arrange, assortment, customers,...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King (Marzollo)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Looking for a vocabulary instructional activity relevant to MLK Day? Try this reading comprehension idea designed around Jean Marzollo's biography Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Go over new terms (freedom, justice,...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Priceman)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Ask budding readers, "How do you make an apple pie?" You may get many answers, but Marjorie Priceman takes the cake with her idea in How to Make an Apply Pie and See the World, an adventurous tale full of wonder and new vocabulary. Using...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: In the Small, Small Pond (Fleming)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Explore pond life and action words through Denise Fleming's In the Small, Small Pond, which you can find online if you don't have it on hand. Learners explore the following verbs: doze, hover, plunge, scatter, swoop, and wade. Go over...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Jonathan and His Mommy (Smalls)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Go on a walking adventure through Irene Smalls' touching book Jonathan and His Mommy, an excellent resource to practice vocabulary in context. Go over the walking-themed terms (humongous, pace, leap, and zigzag) learners will hear before...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse (Henkes)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Familiarize budding readers with new vocabulary in context as they listen you read Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, which can be found on YouTube if you don't have in on hand. Recommended focus words here are: considerate, creative,...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Make Way for Ducklings (McCloskey)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Use the Caldecott Award-winning book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it) to guide budding readers through vocabulary in context. Although the instruction here is limited to the...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: One Hungry Monster (O'Keefe)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Combine counting and vocabulary practice with Susan O'Keefe's engaging story One Hungry Monster, which you can find on YouTube if needed. Introduce learners to the following in-text words: doubt, gargle, rude, swear, and underneath....
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story (Peters)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Lisa Peters presents macroevolution as a large-scale family tree in her book Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story. She suggests the process from single-celled organisms to modern-day humans, and learners explore new vocabulary through the...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Tar Beach (Ringgold)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Anyplace can become a beach! Budding readers explore Faith Ringgold's world of imagination in her book Tar Beach, which can be found on YouTube if you don't have it. What words will budding readers learn? They focus on the following...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Smoky Night (Bunting)

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Experience the Los Angeles Riots through the eyes of a child in Even Bunting's poignant story Smoky Night. Use this text as you teach vocabulary in context, using comprehension questions to help scholars make connections to outside...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Airport (Barton)

For Teachers K - 3rd
This vocabulary-in-context strategy can be applied to any book that learners read with you; however the activity here is designed around Byron Byrton's fiction book, Airplane. First, introduce the new words you will learn: attendant,...
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Lesson Plan
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Introducing Vocabulary: Christopher Columbus (Weinberger)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The story of Christopher Columbus has fascinated young historians for centuries; use this vocabulary-in-context strategy to dive into Kimberly Weinberger's picture book about this classic explorer. Begin by introducing the new words:...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Alexander, Who Use to be Rich Last Sunday (Viorst)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Although this vocabulary-in-context activity is focused on Judith Viorst's book Alexander, Who Use to Be Rich Last Sunday, the strategy can be applied to any book budding learners read with you. First, introduce the three new words you...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: A Picture Book of Helen Keller (Adler)

For Teachers K - 3rd
The story of Helen Keller is a fascinating one for young scholars; use it to practice reading comprehension and new vocabulary as learners listen to you read David Adler's picture book (hint: this strategy can be applied to any book)....
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Lesson Plan
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Quick and Sticky Context Clues

For Teachers 1st
Discuss strategies for defining word your young readers don't know. They read sentences with key words covered by sticky notes and guess from the context what the word might be. They peek at the first letter and guess again.
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Amigo (Baylor)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Amigo by Byrd Baylor gives learners a chance to practice with unknown words and context clues. Choose several vocabulary words to focus on as you read the picture book, or use the ones provided here (the book is in English despite the...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Peter's Chair (Keats)

For Teachers K - 3rd
A new baby means a lot of changes for Peter! Ezra Jack Keats presents this common childhood experience in his story Peter's Chair, the context of a detailed vocabulary study. Before you read, introduce the three new words scholars will...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Barrett)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Although this vocabulary strategy would work in the context of any text, it's a piece of cake if you're reading Judi Barrett's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Go over the terms they will hear so pupils are ready to raise their...
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Introduce Vocabulary: How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? (Yolen)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Dinosaurs don't go to school...but what if they did? Use Jane Yolen's book How Do Dinosaurs Go To School to explore vocabulary in context. Find this on YouTube if you don't have the text on hand. These in-text words give some ideas of...
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Are Trees Alive? (Miller)

For Teachers K - 3rd Standards
Explore the life inside trees as scholars learn vocabulary through Debbie Miller's informational text Are Trees Alive? Familiarize pupils with the new words they will hear like anchor, disease, awaken, harsh, and swell before reading....
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Lesson Plan
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Introduce Vocabulary: Arthur's Baby (Brown)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Many of your youngsters have experienced a new baby coming home, and Marc Brown's story Arthur's Baby is a relatable way to cover some new vocabulary terms. Introduce and define the new words before reading the text aloud: adorable,...