Word meanings, word endings, and word groups (grade 1) · lesson

Clues in the sentence

💡 The words around a new word give clues to what it means.

Kim was thirsty. She gulped her water.

A thirsty kid drinks fast. So gulped means drank fast.

🧠 How to think about it

Read the sentences around the word. Ask: what would make sense here?

🏡 Try it at home

Use a big word at dinner. Ask your child to guess what it means.

💡 A base word can get parts at the start or end.

Jump is the base word in jumping and jumped.

Un means undo. Unlock means to open the lock.

🧠 How to think about it

Cover the ending or the start. What base word is left?

🏡 Try it at home

Take a word like play. Add parts: plays, played, playing, replay.

💡 To tell a word's meaning, name its group and what is special.

A duck is a bird that swims.

Bird is the group. Swims makes it special.

🧠 How to think about it

Say the group first. Then add one fact that makes it not like the rest.

🏡 Try it at home

Pick a thing at home. Name its group and one special fact.

💡 Some words mean almost the same thing, but one is stronger.

Peek is a quick look. Stare is a long look.

Big, large, and gigantic go from big to biggest.

🧠 How to think about it

Line the words up from least to most. Then pick the one that fits.

🏡 Try it at home

Act out peek, look, and stare. Which takes the longest?