ALEX Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (0) 17 :

17. With guidance and support, orally utilize new academic, content-specific, grade-level vocabulary and relate new words to prior knowledge.

[ELA2021] (1) 11 :

11. Utilize new academic, content-specific, grade-level vocabulary, make connections to previously learned words, and relate new words to background knowledge.

a. Make connections to a word's structure using knowledge of phonology, morphology, and orthography of the word to aid learning.

[ELA2021] (2) 15 :

15. Utilize new academic, content-specific, grade-level vocabulary, making connections to previously learned words and relating new words to background knowledge.

a. Make connections to a word's structure using knowledge of phonology, morphology, and orthography of the word to aid learning.

[ELA2021] (2) 19 :

19. Identify new vocabulary and the use of word meanings in text to establish real-life connections.

In this Martha Speaks interactive story, students learn how the choices we make about our trash have different consequences for our environment. A discarded soup can can end up in a landfill, whereas a reused or recycled can could become something new! When used as a part of Martha’s True Stories Buddies Program, buddy pairs engage with the interactive story, then create an Advice Column that offers ways to reuse, repurpose, or compost old things. To familiarize yourself with the program, begin by reading the Martha's True Stories Buddies Program: Overview. At the end of the story, students can answer questions that assess students' comprehension and vocabulary acquisition

This resource includes an lesson, Martha’s True Stories: A Tale of Two Soup Cans. The resource also reads aloud to students and can be helpful for evaluating listening skills. Be sure to have the A Tale of Two Soup Cans Checklist for the partners to use. You can also review the PET part of the checklist in the PET Strategy Chart.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (2) -3 :

R3. Expand background knowledge and build vocabulary through discussion, reading, and writing.

[ELA2021] (2) 15 :

15. Utilize new academic, content-specific, grade-level vocabulary, making connections to previously learned words and relating new words to background knowledge.

a. Make connections to a word's structure using knowledge of phonology, morphology, and orthography of the word to aid learning.

[ELA2021] (2) 18 :

18. Use dictionary definitions and information found within the text to help determine meaning of unfamiliar or multi-meaning words.

[ELA2021] (2) 19 :

19. Identify new vocabulary and the use of word meanings in text to establish real-life connections.

When reading, we all encounter unknown words at times. But how do we figure them out? In this lesson, students learn how to become a “human dictionary” by using a variety of strategies to figure out the meaning of unknown words. Students will be able to figure out the meaning of unknown words using various strategies and clues.

This lesson also offers a pre-lesson to help EL students.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (2) -3 :

R3. Expand background knowledge and build vocabulary through discussion, reading, and writing.

[ELA2021] (2) 6 :

6. Use visual aids and technology in oral presentations to present key ideas and details about a text or conversation, and add drawings or other visual displays to stories or recounts of experiences when appropriate to clarify thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

[ELA2021] (2) 18 :

18. Use dictionary definitions and information found within the text to help determine meaning of unfamiliar or multi-meaning words.

[ELA2021] (2) 19 :

19. Identify new vocabulary and the use of word meanings in text to establish real-life connections.

[ELA2021] (3) -3 :

R3. Expand background knowledge and build vocabulary through discussion, reading, and writing.

[ELA2021] (3) 13 :

13. Utilize new academic, content-specific, grade-level vocabulary to make connections to previously learned words and relate new words to background knowledge.

a. Make connections to a word's structure using knowledge of phonology, morphology, and orthography of the word to aid learning.

[ELA2021] (4) -5 :

R2. Use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar spoken or written words.

[ELA2021] (4) 9 :

9. Accurately interpret general academic and domain-specific words and phrases.

[ELA2021] (5) -5 :

R2. Use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar spoken or written words.

The goal of this lesson is to introduce the academic vocabulary of economics and financial literacy through children's books. In Babymouse: Cupcake Tycoon, there are a variety of economics and financial literacy vocabulary words embedded in the text, which involve a school fundraiser. Through a think-aloud read-aloud, the lesson will illustrate how to introduce key economic concepts/vocabulary through the story. Students use puppets to conduct interviews about economics vocabulary in the story and then create vocabulary cards. As a final project, they create video posters, using either PowerPoint or Glogster.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [SS2010] LWT2 (2) 9 :

9 ) Describe how and why people from various cultures immigrate to the United States.

Examples: how—ships, planes, automobiles

why—improved quality of life, family connections, disasters

•  Describing the importance of cultural unity and diversity within and across groups

[ELA2021] (2) -3 :

R3. Expand background knowledge and build vocabulary through discussion, reading, and writing.

[ELA2021] (2) 4 :

4. Orally answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions about a text or conversation, using complete sentences to provide key ideas and details.

[ELA2021] (2) 18 :

18. Use dictionary definitions and information found within the text to help determine meaning of unfamiliar or multi-meaning words.

[ELA2021] (2) 19 :

19. Identify new vocabulary and the use of word meanings in text to establish real-life connections.

[ELA2021] (2) 22 :

22. Use content knowledge built during read-alouds and independent reading of informational and literary texts by participating in content-specific discussions with peers and/or through writing.

This is a reading guide/lesson plan with step-by-step instructions to accompany the book Feivel's Flying Horses by Heidi Smith Hyde and illustrated by Johanna Van Der Sterre. Feivel's Flying Horses tells the story of a Jewish woodcarver who moved from the Old Country and carved carousel horses to earn money to bring his family from Europe to America. The story is a historical fiction story of immigrants coming to America. The reading guide is recommended for kindergarten through 4th grade.