Context Clues: You be the Detective

Context Clues – What Are They?

• Context clues are HINTS that the author gives to help DEFINE a DIFFICULT or unusual word.

• The clue may appear in the SAME sentence or SURROUNDING sentences.

• VOCABULARY increases through reading, so it is IMPORTANT to understand how to define new words with CONTEXT CLUES.

CONTEXT CLUE GAMECONTEXT CLUE GAME

The first review on the Harry Potter The first review on the Harry Potter movie was movie was favorable. favorable. Many people Many people attended and enjoyed the movie. attended and enjoyed the movie.

A. NegativeA. Negative B. UncertainB. Uncertain C. PositiveC. Positive D. Cleary D. Cleary

Her quiet, Her quiet, timidtimid ways made us guess ways made us guess her true feelings about the story her true feelings about the story because she kept her ideas to herself because she kept her ideas to herself and never spoke in class. and never spoke in class.

A. ShyA. Shy B. BoisterousB. Boisterous

C. KindC. Kind D. SeriouslyD. Seriously

The girl felt nervous as she The girl felt nervous as she performed her rehearsed cheer and performed her rehearsed cheer and viedvied for a position on the team. She for a position on the team. She really wanted to be a cheerleader. really wanted to be a cheerleader.

A. shoutedA. shouted B. enclosedB. enclosed C. expandedC. expanded

D. triedD. tried

It was difficult to listen to Tommy It was difficult to listen to Tommy speak because he speak because he droneddroned on and on on and on just like a buzzer that won’t stop just like a buzzer that won’t stop buzzing. buzzing.

A. IdealA. Ideal B. Same ToneB. Same Tone

C. LivelyC. Lively D. ScareD. Scare

Joey went to the Joey went to the apex apex of the of the mountain, and because it was so mountain, and because it was so high, he had to take a tank of oxygen high, he had to take a tank of oxygen with him. with him.

A. bottomA. bottom B. breatheB. breathe

C. topC. top D. clearD. clear

The The frigidfrigid air seemed to suck his air seemed to suck his breathe away as he attempted to breathe away as he attempted to finish his first snowman of the finish his first snowman of the season. season.

A. deficientA. deficient B. sappyB. sappy C. ThickC. Thick D. Cold D. Cold

4 Types of Context Clues4 Types of Context Clues

Ways to figure out the meaning of Ways to figure out the meaning of new words in a text. new words in a text.

Synonym: a word with the same meaning is used in the sentence.Synonym: a word with the same meaning is used in the sentence.

Ex. Tybalt was furious, or angry at Romeo. Ex. Tybalt was furious, or angry at Romeo. Antonym: a word with the opposite meaning is used in the Antonym: a word with the opposite meaning is used in the

sentence. sentence.

Ex. Ms. Leary’s dog looks tame when sleeping, but wild when awakeEx. Ms. Leary’s dog looks tame when sleeping, but wild when awake.. Explanation: The unknown word is explained within the sentence or Explanation: The unknown word is explained within the sentence or

in a sentence immediately preceding. in a sentence immediately preceding.

Ex. The people were nomads. They went from place to place looking Ex. The people were nomads. They went from place to place looking for food. for food.

Example: Specific examples are used to define the term. Example: Specific examples are used to define the term.

Ex. Mr. DeLaurentis used the utensil to eat his food. Ex. Mr. DeLaurentis used the utensil to eat his food.

Now it is your turn to be a detective and follow

the clues!

Use what you have learned about context clues to complete the activity on the next 5 slides.

Context Clues Practice ActivityContext Clues Practice ActivityYour friend Ryan has moved to a new country and is Your friend Ryan has moved to a new country and is learning a new language. Read what he wrote in his learning a new language. Read what he wrote in his

diary and see if you can figure out the meaning to the diary and see if you can figure out the meaning to the underlined words.underlined words.

Dear Diary,Dear Diary,

I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of poof-poof-poofspoofs very quickly, and I almost missed the very quickly, and I almost missed the tramzamtramzam. When I got . When I got to school, I realized I had forgotten my to school, I realized I had forgotten my zilgpingzilgping . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very is very zooshzoosh, , and told me I could bring it tomorrow.and told me I could bring it tomorrow.

After school, some friends and I played After school, some friends and I played plingmingplingming. It. It’’s a s a new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they only scored new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they only scored 5 points, so we were the 5 points, so we were the zoiterszoiters!!

Dad says that next weekend weDad says that next weekend we’’re going to the re going to the fladderfladder . I . I cancan’’t wait! I love to swim and play in the sand. I hope I dont wait! I love to swim and play in the sand. I hope I don ’’t get a t get a sunburn though.sunburn though.

Well, I better go to bed soon. I donWell, I better go to bed soon. I don’’t want to wake up late t want to wake up late again and miss my again and miss my tramzamtramzam!!

Until tomorrow,Until tomorrow,RyanRyan

DirectionsDirections

ItIt’’s time for some detective work. s time for some detective work. Take each word from RyanTake each word from Ryan’’s diary s diary that is written in his new that is written in his new language and use the context language and use the context clues in the text to figure them clues in the text to figure them out!out!

LetLet’’s begin…s begin… What could the word What could the word poof-poofspoof-poofs mean? mean?

► The sentences tell me it is something that can be eaten. I know The sentences tell me it is something that can be eaten. I know that it is a breakfast food because Ryan said it was morning. I also that it is a breakfast food because Ryan said it was morning. I also know that it goes in a bowl. What do you think it is?know that it goes in a bowl. What do you think it is?

► The most logical guess would be a type of cereal.The most logical guess would be a type of cereal.

What could the word What could the word tramzamtramzam mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that Ryan was going to school and he almost The sentences tell me that Ryan was going to school and he almost

missed his tramzam. What do you think it is?missed his tramzam. What do you think it is?► The most logical guess would be a school bus.The most logical guess would be a school bus.

What could the word What could the word zilgpingzilgping mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that it is something Ryan needed at school. The sentences tell me that it is something Ryan needed at school.

I also know that it is ok if he brings it tomorrow. What do you think I also know that it is ok if he brings it tomorrow. What do you think it is?it is?

► The most logical guess would be RyanThe most logical guess would be Ryan’’s homework.s homework.

What could the word What could the word zooshzoosh mean? mean?► The sentences tell me that a person can act this way and that Ms. The sentences tell me that a person can act this way and that Ms.

Jutzi is being kind and allowing Ryan to bring his homework the Jutzi is being kind and allowing Ryan to bring his homework the next day. What do you think it is?next day. What do you think it is?

► The most logical guess would be friendly or understanding.The most logical guess would be friendly or understanding.

YouYou’’re doing terrific…keep re doing terrific…keep going!going!

What could the word What could the word plingmingplingming mean? mean?►The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and his The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and his

friends play against each other and that points friends play against each other and that points can be scored. What do you think it is?can be scored. What do you think it is?

►The most logical guess would be a sport such as The most logical guess would be a sport such as basketball or soccer.basketball or soccer.

What could the word What could the word zoiterszoiters mean? mean?►The sentences tell me that RyanThe sentences tell me that Ryan’’s team scored 7 s team scored 7

points while the other team scored less points. points while the other team scored less points. What do you think it is?What do you think it is?

►The most logical guess would be that it means The most logical guess would be that it means winners.winners.

Almost there…Almost there…

What could the word What could the word fladderfladder mean? mean?►The sentences tell me that RyanThe sentences tell me that Ryan’’s dad said he s dad said he

could go there and when he gets there they could go there and when he gets there they will swim and play in the sand. Ryan also will swim and play in the sand. Ryan also mentions not wanting a sunburn. What do you mentions not wanting a sunburn. What do you think it is?think it is?

►The most logical guess would be a lake or a The most logical guess would be a lake or a beach.beach.

And, remember, we already figured out the word And, remember, we already figured out the word tramzamtramzam probably means school bus.probably means school bus.

REVIEW: REVIEW: What are context clues? What are context clues? What are some ways you can figure out What are some ways you can figure out

the meanings of new words in a text? the meanings of new words in a text? How can context clues help you?How can context clues help you? How will context clues improve your How will context clues improve your

reading? reading? Try creating your own sentences with Try creating your own sentences with

CONTEXT CLUES using these words: CONTEXT CLUES using these words: Apex, Frigid, Vied. Apex, Frigid, Vied.