LAFS.1.L.3.4Archived Standard

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.
  1. Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
  2. Use frequently occurring affixes as a clue to the meaning of a word.
  3. Identify frequently occurring root words (e.g., look) and their inflectional forms (e.g., looks, looked, looking).
General Information
Subject Area: English Language Arts
Grade: 1
Strand: Language Standards
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Date Adopted or Revised: 12/10
Date of Last Rating: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved - Archived

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))
5010042: Language Arts - Grade One (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2021, 2021 and beyond (current))
7710012: Access Language Arts - Grade 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 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

It’s Mine! A Book About Sharing and Cooperation:

In this lesson students will use details from the story It's Mine! by Leo Lionni to describe story elements, determine unknown words, and understand the moral or lesson of the text. This will be done with teacher support, in pairs, and by working independently. The lessons will conclude with a piece of opinion writing to show students’ perspective on the text.

Type: Lesson Plan

Be Brave and Fearless: A Closer Look at Sheila Rae, the Brave:

In this reading lesson, students will identify and describe story elements and retell the major events in the story Sheila Rae, the Brave by Kevin Henkes. Students will also identify the moral or the lesson learned in the story and write an opinion paragraph about the main characters as they explore the concept of bravery.

Type: Lesson Plan

Mr. Duck Means Business: A Reading and Writing Lesson:

Students will be engaged with the adorably illustrated and written children's book, Mr. Duck Means Business. They will discuss the story elements, practice retelling it, and create an expository writing piece about how the main character changed from the beginning to the end of the book.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Searching for Similarities - Part 3: Synonyms and Context Clues:

Determine the meaning of unknown words using context clues in this interactive tutorial. Join Gemma as she uses synonyms as clues to figure out what words mean in the observations of her family.

This is part 3 of a 4-part series. Click below to view parts 1, 2, or 4:

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Observing Opposites - Part 3: Antonyms and Context Clues:

Determine the meaning of unknown words using context clues in this interactive tutorial. Join Jake as he uses antonyms as clues to figure out what words mean in the observations of his family.

This is part 3 of a 3-part series. Click below to view parts 1 and 2:

Observing Opposites - Part 1: Adjectives and Antonyms

Observing Opposites - Part 2: Verbs and Antonyms

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Cool Context Clues:

Help Pat the Penguin use context clues to find the meanings of unknown words and phrases in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Student Center Activities

Vocabulary: Affix Match:

In this activity, students will match affixes to their meanings by playing a memory game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Fill-In:

In this activity, students will choose words to complete sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Semantic Map:

In this activity, students will brainstorm words related to a topic and use books and/or reference materials to answer questions about unknown words on a semantic map.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Four Square Vocabulary Map:

In this activity, students will describe a vocabulary word using a four square map.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Multiple Meaning Bugs:

In this activity, students will identify the multiple meanings of words.

Type: Student Center Activity

Phonics: Base Word Sort:

In this activity, students will identify word components (base word and affixes) by doing a sort.

Type: Student Center Activity

Phonics: Parting Words:

In this activity, students will identify and segment base words and inflections.

Type: Student Center Activity

Phonics: Covering the Bases:

In this activity, students will identify base words and inflections.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Action:

In this activity, students will produce words with affixes to complete sentences while playing a board game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Ask-Explain-List:

In this activity, students will demonstrate understanding of words by applying them to a variety of contexts.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Build-A-Word:

In this activity, students will add affixes to base words to make new words, then use the new words in sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Inside Information:

In this activity, students will write simple definitions, sentences, and examples of target words in a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaning Exchange:

In this activity, students will identify the meaning of words in context by playing a matching game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaning Maker:

In this activity, students will identify unknown words, determine their meaning, and rewrite sentences to demonstrate their understanding.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaning Map:

In this activity, students will identify attributes of words and record them on a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Multiple Meaning Match:

In this activity, students will identify the multiple meanings of words in context.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Oh My Word!:

In this activity, students will write simple definitions, sentences, and synonyms of words on a recording sheet.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: What-A-Word:

In this activity, students will identify words to complete text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Express:

In this activity, students will identify the meaning of words in context.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Filler:

In this activity, students will identify words to complete sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Web:

In this activity, students will identify the multiple meaning of words by constructing a web.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Wise:

In this activity, student will determine the meaning of words. NOTE: To fully meet the expectations of the aligned standards, students will need to identify unknown words in text they are reading and use strategies to determine the meanings of the unknown words.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Wizard:

In this activity, students will determine the meaning of words of interest in text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Wrap:

In this activity, students will describe a target word using a graphic organizer.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word-O-Nary:

In this activity, students will write simple definitions, sentences, and synonyms of targeted words found in content-area text.

Type: Student Center Activity

Teaching Idea

Learn New Words:

This is a sample lesson that can be applied to any book to help students learn new vocabulary words.

Type: Teaching Idea

Original Student Tutorials for Language Arts - Grades K-5

Cool Context Clues:

Help Pat the Penguin use context clues to find the meanings of unknown words and phrases in this interactive tutorial.

Observing Opposites - Part 3: Antonyms and Context Clues:

Determine the meaning of unknown words using context clues in this interactive tutorial. Join Jake as he uses antonyms as clues to figure out what words mean in the observations of his family.

This is part 3 of a 3-part series. Click below to view parts 1 and 2:

Observing Opposites - Part 1: Adjectives and Antonyms

Observing Opposites - Part 2: Verbs and Antonyms

Searching for Similarities - Part 3: Synonyms and Context Clues:

Determine the meaning of unknown words using context clues in this interactive tutorial. Join Gemma as she uses synonyms as clues to figure out what words mean in the observations of her family.

This is part 3 of a 4-part series. Click below to view parts 1, 2, or 4:

Student Resources

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

Original Student Tutorials

Searching for Similarities - Part 3: Synonyms and Context Clues:

Determine the meaning of unknown words using context clues in this interactive tutorial. Join Gemma as she uses synonyms as clues to figure out what words mean in the observations of her family.

This is part 3 of a 4-part series. Click below to view parts 1, 2, or 4:

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Observing Opposites - Part 3: Antonyms and Context Clues:

Determine the meaning of unknown words using context clues in this interactive tutorial. Join Jake as he uses antonyms as clues to figure out what words mean in the observations of his family.

This is part 3 of a 3-part series. Click below to view parts 1 and 2:

Observing Opposites - Part 1: Adjectives and Antonyms

Observing Opposites - Part 2: Verbs and Antonyms

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Cool Context Clues:

Help Pat the Penguin use context clues to find the meanings of unknown words and phrases in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

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