LAFS.3.RL.2.4Archived Standard

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Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
General Information
Subject Area: English Language Arts
Grade: 3
Strand: Reading Standards for Literature
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Cluster: Craft and Structure
Date Adopted or Revised: 12/10
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved - Archived
Assessed: Yes
Test Item Specifications
  • Item Type(s): This benchmark may be assessed using: EBSR , MS , ST , MC item(s)
    • Assessed with LAFS.3.L.2.3, LAFS.3.L.3.4, and LAFS.3.L.3.5.
    Also assesses: LAFS.3.RF.3.3 and LAFS.3.RF.4.4
  • Assessment Limits :
    Items may ask the student to use the text to determine the meanings of words and phrases using context, affixes, or root words as clues. Items should ask the student to consider literal and nonliteral meanings of words. Items may also ask the student to determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases or words and phrases with multiple meanings. The student may also have to demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between words and nuances of meaning. Items may ask the student to choose words or phrases for effect. Items should focus on words and phrases that are central to the meaning of the text. Items should not exclusively ask the student to determine the meanings of basic, everyday words and phrases that commonly appear in spoken language.
  • Text Types :
    The items assessing these standards may be used with one or more grade-appropriate literary texts. Texts may vary in complexity.
  • Response Mechanisms :
    The Enhanced Item Descriptions section on page 3 provides a list of Response Mechanisms that may be used to assess this standard (excluding the Editing Task Choice item type). The Sample Response Mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, the examples below.
  • Task Demand and Sample Response Mechanisms :

    Task Demand

    Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

    Sample Response Mechanisms

    Selectable Text
    • Requires the student to select words or phrases from the text that show the meaning of words used in the text.
    • Requires the student to correctly identify the meaning of a word or phrase and then to select words or phrases from the text that provide clues to the meaning of that word. 
    Multiple Choice 
    • Requires the student to select the meaning of a word or phrase used in the text. 
    EBSR 
    • Requires the student to select the meaning of a word or phrase and to select words or phrases from the text that support the correct meaning. 
    Multiselect 
    • Requires the student to select words, phrases, or direct quotations that show the meaning of words used in the text.
    Task Demand

    Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known affix is added to a known word. 

    Sample Response Mechanisms

    Multiple Choice

    • Requires the student to select the meaning of a word used in the text that has an affix. 
    Multiselect 
    • Requires the student to select an affix that shows the meaning of words used in the text. 

    Task Demand

    Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root. 

    Sample Response Mechanisms

    Multiple Choice 

    • Requires the student to select the meaning of a word from the text by using a known root word as a clue. 
    Multiselect
    • Requires the student to select a root word that shows the meaning of words used in the text. 

    Task Demand

    Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and phrases in context. 

    Sample Response Mechanisms

    Multiple Choice 

    • Requires the student to select the correct meaning of literal and nonliteral words and phrases based on the text. 
    Selectable Text 
    • Requires the student to select the correct meaning of literal or nonliteral words or phrases and then to select words or phrases from the text to support the meaning.

    Task Demand

    Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty.

    Sample Response Mechanisms

    Selectable Text 

    • Requires the student to select the correct word from a list of words that are related and then to select words or phrases from the text that support the answer.
    Multiple Choice
    • Requires the student to select the correct word from a list of words that are related.
    Task Demand

    Choose words or phrases for effect.

    Sample Response Mechanisms

    Selectable Text 

    • Requires the student to select the correct word or phrase from a list of words for a desired effect and then to select words or phrases from the text that support the answer. 
    Multiple Choice 
    • Requires the student to select the correct word from a list of words for a desired effect.

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5010010: English for Speakers of Other Languages-Elementary (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022 (course terminated))
5010020: Basic Skills in Reading-K-2 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2021, 2021 and beyond (current))
5010030: Functional Basic Skills in Communications-Elementary (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5010044: Language Arts - Grade Three (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7710014: Access Language Arts - Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5011030: Library Skills/Information Literacy Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

Roaring for Figurative Language:

In this lesson, students will analyze song lyrics to determine the meanings of figurative language used throughout the lyrics. Students will determine the theme of the song and explain how the examples of figurative language help develop the theme. They will complete various graphic organizers and write an opinion piece to demonstrate their understanding of the skills.

Type: Lesson Plan

"City, City": A Comparison:

In this close reading lesson, students will read 'City, City" by Marci Ridlon and analyze how the poet uses words to describe the city. Students will write a comparison piece to explain what the poet says about the city in stanzas one and two.

Type: Lesson Plan

Writing a Claim with The Tale of Despereaux:

In this partial reading of Kate DiCamillo's story The Tale of Despereaux students will meet a variety of charming, and not so charming, characters. Students will identify figurative language within the text and explain how it contributes to understanding the characters. At the end of the lesson, students will make a claim about one of the characters and support their claim using text evidence.

Type: Lesson Plan

Vocabulary Detective:

Working in small groups, students will use context clues to determine word meaning while rotating through stations that ask students to define unknown vocabulary words. The class will then take a "field trip" around the room to discuss, reflect, and revise previous conclusions.

Type: Lesson Plan

And the Moral Is . . .:

In this lesson, students will work with partners and individually to read and analyze fables. Students will clarify unknown words using context and dictionaries. Students will identify words or phrases to help them determine the moral/lesson being taught by the fable.

Type: Lesson Plan

Close Reading Exemplar: "Because of Winn-Dixie":

The goal of this one day exemplar is to give students the opportunity to use the reading and writing habits they've been practicing on a regular basis to absorb deep lessons from Kate DiCamillo's story. By reading and rereading the passage closely and focusing their reading through a series of questions and discussion about the text, students will identify how and why the three main characters became friends.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Making Meaning:

Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.

You will be able to identify literal and nonliteral words and phrases in sentences and stories. You will also be able to find the meaning or words and phrases by looking carefully at what the author is saying.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Original Student Tutorials for Language Arts - Grades K-5

Making Meaning:

Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.

You will be able to identify literal and nonliteral words and phrases in sentences and stories. You will also be able to find the meaning or words and phrases by looking carefully at what the author is saying.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

Making Meaning:

Learn how to identify explicit evidence and understand implicit meaning in a text.

You will be able to identify literal and nonliteral words and phrases in sentences and stories. You will also be able to find the meaning or words and phrases by looking carefully at what the author is saying.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.