Download Specific Word Instruction Possible Sentences

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Specific Word Instruction
L E S S O N
M O D E L
F O R
Word Relationships
Benchmark
• ability to acquire in-depth
understanding of word meanings
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Grade Level
• Grade 3 and above
Grouping
• whole class
• small group or pairs
Sample Text
Possible Sentences
Stahl and Kapinus (1991) found that the use of this prereading
strategy significantly improved both students’ recall of target
word meanings and their comprehension of the selection containing those words. Since students have to use at least two
words in each possible sentence, they are required to understand the relationship between the words. Through evaluation
of sentence accuracy, students are forced to actively process
semantic information about each word (Stahl 1999). This sample
lesson model targets specific vocabulary found in “Studying
the Sky,” a short selection about astronomy. The same model
can be adapted and used to enhance specific word instruction
in any commercial reading program.
• “Studying the Sky” (Resources)
POSSIBLE SENTENCES
Target Words
ancient
astronomer
constellation
galaxy
orbit
universe
Select the Target Words
Select about six words from the sample text “Studying the Sky”
that may be unknown to students, are central to the main idea
of the selection, and are adequately defined by context within
the selection. Then select about four words from the text that
are likely to be known to students.
Introduce the Words
List the following words on the board:
ancient, astronomer, center, constellation,
galaxy, orbit, planet, stars, sun, universe
ner
Specific Word Instruction
Englis h-La
nguage Le
arner
English/Spanish Cognates
ancient • anciano (elderly)
astronomer • astrónomo
constellation • constelación
galaxy • galaxia
orbit • órbita
universe • universo
Tell students that the words on the board will appear in the
selection they are about to read, “Studying the Sky.” Ask students to share their knowledge of each word. If necessary,
provide a brief student-friendly definition of each word.
• Ancient describes someone who is very old or something
from a very long time ago.
• An astronomer is someone who studies planets and stars.
• A constellation is a group of stars visible from Earth. The
stars create a shape that can be recognized and has a name,
such as the Big Dipper.
• A galaxy is a group of billions of stars belonging to one star
system. Earth is in the Milky Way galaxy.
• An orbit is a circular path that a heavenly body or satellite
makes around another body in space.
• The universe is everything that exists, including all space
and matter.
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Write Possible Sentences
Next, have students work individually or in pairs to select two
or three words from the list on the board. Tell them to make up
one sentence that contains at least two of the words and that
might appear in the selection they are about to read. Print the
suggested sentences on the board and have them read aloud.
Include both accurate and inaccurate statements without discussing them. For example, write the following sentences on
the board:
Nine planets orbit around the sun.
A constellation is a great big galaxy.
An astronomer is someone who is ancient.
The sun is the center of the universe.
V. V O C A B U L A R Y
11. SPECIFIC WORD
INSTRUCTION
12. WORD-LEARNING STR ATEGIES
13. WORD CONSCIOUSNESS
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Specific Word Instruction
Read the Selection
Studying the Sky
stronomy is the study of the planets, stars, and galaxies.
People have been watching the movement of the sun,
moon, planets, and stars since ancient times. So astronomy is a very, very old science.
From early times, people tried to make models of the universe.
For many years, no one wanted to believe that the sun was the center
of the solar system. It took a long time for people to accept this heliocentric model, with the earth orbiting around the sun with the other
planets.
It is interesting to study the night sky like the astronomers from
centuries ago. You can see even the most distant stars with your eyes
alone. And you may be able to identify constellations, or groups of
stars. Constellations make pictures in the sky, such as Canis Major
(the Great Dog) or Ursa Minor (the Little Bear).
A telescope can be used to see faraway things more clearly.
With a telescope, you can see details like the craters of the moon and
other features of the lunar landscape, the moons of Jupiter, and the
rings of Saturn.
Astronomy is like taking a trip back in time. This evening you
can look at the same planets and stars that ancient astronomers
observed so long ago.
A
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VO C A B U L A RY H A N D B O O K • S T U DY I N G T H E S K Y
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When students have finished contributing possible sentences
using all the target words, have them read, independently or
aloud, the selection “Studying the Sky.”
Evaluate the Accuracy of the Possible Sentences
After students read the selection, go back and evaluate the accuracy of the possible sentences. Have students look again at the
sentences on the board. Encourage them to discuss whether,
based on their reading, each sentence is or is not accurate. If
they determine that a sentence is accurate, place a checkmark
beside it. If a sentence is inaccurate, help students to rewrite
the sentence on the board to make an accurate statement.
For example:
Nine planets orbit around the sun.
A constellation is a great big galaxy.
R E W R I T E :
A constellation is a group of stars in a galaxy.
An astronomer is someone who is ancient.
R E W R I T E :
A long time ago, ancient astronomers observed the stars.
The sun is the center of the universe.
R E W R I T E :
The sun is at the center of our solar system.