Vocabulary Development Strategies for Fifth Grade
1. Analogies:
Description: Analogies display the ways that words are related to one another.
Purpose: Standardized tests often assess students' vocabulary through analogies; therefore, it is advantageous to introduce struggling readers to analogies they will encounter. Writing analogies helps students understand the words at a deeper level.
Directions: Explain to students the six relationships of analogies that elementary students are asked to complete, as well as, providing examples of each.
A. Part to whole: Leaf is to tree as hand is to human.
B. Synonym: Black is to raven as red is to crimson.
C. Anyonym: Black is to white as up is to down.
D. Action: Bird is to fly as fish is to swim.
E. Cause and effect: Hurricane is to wind as blizzard is to snow.
F. Geography: London is to England as Washington, D.C. is to the United States.
Once students are familiar with analogies, they can begin to write their own. Students must be able to justify each analogy by explaining the relevant relationship.
2. Crossword Puzzle:
Description: Crossword puzzles most often focus on definitions or synonyms; however, you can construct them using anyonyms.
Purpose: Many students enjoy doing and making crossword puzzles. The best crossword puzzles are those based on words found in books that students have read.
*Directions: To create a simple puzzle by hand, select the words that are important for the reader to rememberm identify shared letters among them, and assemble them in the form of a puzzle. Then assign numbers to the blanks and write the definitions based on the numbers in the puzzle. Here is an example of a crossword puzzle for fifth grade.
* Many online resources allow you to create crossword puzzles easily. A helpful website to create crossword puzzles are, www.puzzlemaker.com
Description: Analogies display the ways that words are related to one another.
Purpose: Standardized tests often assess students' vocabulary through analogies; therefore, it is advantageous to introduce struggling readers to analogies they will encounter. Writing analogies helps students understand the words at a deeper level.
Directions: Explain to students the six relationships of analogies that elementary students are asked to complete, as well as, providing examples of each.
A. Part to whole: Leaf is to tree as hand is to human.
B. Synonym: Black is to raven as red is to crimson.
C. Anyonym: Black is to white as up is to down.
D. Action: Bird is to fly as fish is to swim.
E. Cause and effect: Hurricane is to wind as blizzard is to snow.
F. Geography: London is to England as Washington, D.C. is to the United States.
Once students are familiar with analogies, they can begin to write their own. Students must be able to justify each analogy by explaining the relevant relationship.
2. Crossword Puzzle:
Description: Crossword puzzles most often focus on definitions or synonyms; however, you can construct them using anyonyms.
Purpose: Many students enjoy doing and making crossword puzzles. The best crossword puzzles are those based on words found in books that students have read.
*Directions: To create a simple puzzle by hand, select the words that are important for the reader to rememberm identify shared letters among them, and assemble them in the form of a puzzle. Then assign numbers to the blanks and write the definitions based on the numbers in the puzzle. Here is an example of a crossword puzzle for fifth grade.
* Many online resources allow you to create crossword puzzles easily. A helpful website to create crossword puzzles are, www.puzzlemaker.com
Language Concepts
Across
2. New words formed by combining two existing words and omitting some of the letters.
7. Two contradictory words or ideas used together in a word or phrase.
9. A more pleasant sounding word used in place of a word with negative connotions.
10. Humorous expressions that highlight multiple meanings of a word or two words that sound alike.
Down
1. Words associated with particular geographic regions.
3. Word formed from the initial letters of other words.
4. Words that have opposite meanings.
5. Words that mean the same or nearly the same.
6. Words that sound like their meaning.
8. New words that enter our vocabulary through extensive usage or for new inventions.
2. New words formed by combining two existing words and omitting some of the letters.
7. Two contradictory words or ideas used together in a word or phrase.
9. A more pleasant sounding word used in place of a word with negative connotions.
10. Humorous expressions that highlight multiple meanings of a word or two words that sound alike.
Down
1. Words associated with particular geographic regions.
3. Word formed from the initial letters of other words.
4. Words that have opposite meanings.
5. Words that mean the same or nearly the same.
6. Words that sound like their meaning.
8. New words that enter our vocabulary through extensive usage or for new inventions.