Dictionary Usage Skills


ELAR-Grade-7 Foundational Skills Dictionary Usage Skills
Students use a dictionary to find meaning, syllabication, pronunciation, word origin, and parts of speech of familiar and unfamiliar words. Then they work in groups to go on a dictionary scavenger hunt. Finally, they use their new vocabulary in original writing.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

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Here are the teacher pack items for Dictionary Usage Skills:

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Overview

In this experience, students use a dictionary to find meaning, syllabication, pronunciation, word origin, and part of speech of familiar and unfamiliar words. Then they work in groups to go on a dictionary scavenger hunt. Finally, they use their new vocabulary in original writing.

Students need to have access to print and digital dictionaries in this experience.

Students will work in small groups in Scene 4.

Objectives

  • Use a dictionary to determine word meaning, pronunciation, syllabication, word origins, and parts of speech.
  • Use new vocabulary in original writing.

Duration

One class period.


old multivolume dictionary

A multi-volume Latin Dictionary, 1858 edition


Dictionaries offer more insights into language than just word definitions. Imagine looking up the word geyser and finding it has its origins in Icelandic. You look more closely. It turns out the Icelandic origin is from Geysir, the name of a hot spring in southwest Iceland. The name comes from the Old Norse word geysa, which means to gush. And more, it is related to the English word gust, for a blast of cold air.

Dictionaries can tell you the part of speech a word is – in the case of geyser, a noun. They can teach you how to pronounce a new word. That lets you use it in conversation. And dictionaries can show you how the word divides into syllables, which can further help with the sound-print connection. In this experience, you will practice your dictionary skills.

Objectives

  • Use a dictionary to determine word meaning, pronunciation, syllabication, word origins, and parts of speech.
  • Use new vocabulary in original writing.


Look up the word chasm. Find its part of speech, word origin, and definition. Post a fact about the word. 



Examples might relate to the word’s origins in Greek (khasma, or gaping hollow) or Latin (chasma); its definition as a deep fissure; or synonyms such as ravine, gorge, gully, crevice, or gap. Chasm is a noun.


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