LAFS.1.L.3.5Archived Standard

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With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
  1. Sort words into categories (e.g., colors, clothing) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.
  2. Define words by category and by one or more key attributes (e.g., a duck is a bird that swims; a tiger is a large cat with stripes).
  3. Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at home that are cozy).
  4. Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings.
General Information
Subject Area: English Language Arts
Grade: 1
Strand: Language Standards
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Cluster: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
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

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))
5010101: Introduction to Debate Grade 1 (Specifically in versions: 2020 - 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 Plan

Reading with Our Eyes, Fingers, Toes, Ears and Nose:

In this lesson, students will practice identifying descriptive words in their reading. Students will identify describing words based on the five senses. Students will create a riddle using descriptive words and add it to a digital class presentation.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Searching for Similarities - Part 4: Synonyms and Shades of Meaning:

Explore the small differences in the meanings of synonyms in this interactive tutorial. Join Gemma as she compares, orders, and chooses synonyms based on their shades of meaning.

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

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Places You'll Go!:

Sort and describe words based on categories and key attributes in this interactive tutorial. Visit a circus, zoo, and fire station as you learn to describe and group people, animals, and objects.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Student Center Activities

Vocabulary: Spin Sort:

In this activity, students will identify and sort contractions, synonyms, antonyms, abbreviations, homophones, and homographs.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Opposites Attract:

In this activity, students will identify antonyms by playing a card game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Synonym Dominoes:

In this activity, students will identify synonyms by playing a domino game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Another Word:

In this activity, students will exchange antonyms for the underlined word in sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Semantic Feature Analysis:

In this activity, students will identify the features that distinguish one word from another by completing a semantic feature analysis grid.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Connections:

In this activity, students will identify connections between words and record their shared attribute/category.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Action Word Ring Sort:

In this activity, students will sort verbs related to a picture.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Choose and Chat:

In this activity, students will use adjectives to describe and identify objects.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: About Me:

In this activity, students will complete a sentence using descriptive words (adjectives).

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Go Fish for Homophones:

In this activity, students will match and correctly use homophones while playing a game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Synonym Spider:

In this activity, students will match synonyms.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Memory Word Match:

In this activity, students will match words to corresponding meanings (symbols, contractions, abbreviations) while playing a memory game. As an extension, students can sort matched words into categories.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Alike and Different:

In this activity, students will compare and contrast the attributes of words using a Venn diagram.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Attribute Analysis:

In this activity, students will distinguish one word from another by completing an attribute analysis grid. As an adaptation to this activity, teachers may create attribute analysis grids that reflect units of study.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Categor-Ring:

In this activity, students will identify and sort words by categories.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Category Creations:

In this activity, students will produce categories and corresponding words. As an adaptation to this activity, the students may sort teacher-selected words into categories and produce a category heading based on shared attributes OR produce words that belong in teacher-selected categories (based on units of study).

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Category Cube:

In this activity, students will produce and categorize words by rolling a category cube and writing corresponding words.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Category Sort:

In this activity, students will brainstorm categories and corresponding words. As an adaptation to this activity, students can sort teacher-selected words and identify the category title based on shared attributes.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Category Tag:

In this activity, students will state words that correspond to specific categories by playing a board game. NOTE: A blank game board is provided to allow teachers to create categories relevant to classroom instruction. As an extension, students may choose the word that does not belong in a set of words and name the category for the remaining words.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Compare Extraordinaire:

In this activity, students will identify similarities and differences between the meanings of words using a Venn diagram.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Concept Connection:

In this activity, students will compare four words, determine the one that does not belong in the set, and produce a category title for the remaining words based on shared attributes.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Cube Word Sort:

In this activity, students will sort words by categories.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Extreme Words:

In this activity, students will identify the relationship among words by placing them on a continuum.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Now Featuring:

In this activity, students will distinguish one word from another by completing an attribute analysis grid. As an adaptation to this activity, teachers may create attribute analysis grids that reflect units of study.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Same and Different:

In this activity, students will compare and contrast words using a Venn diagram.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Transportation Key Sort:

In this activity, students will sort transportation words into categories (air, land, water).

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Wake-Up:

In this activity, students will identify more precise alternatives (synonyms) for overused words.

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

Searching for Similarities - Part 4: Synonyms and Shades of Meaning:

Explore the small differences in the meanings of synonyms in this interactive tutorial. Join Gemma as she compares, orders, and chooses synonyms based on their shades of meaning.

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

The Places You'll Go!:

Sort and describe words based on categories and key attributes in this interactive tutorial. Visit a circus, zoo, and fire station as you learn to describe and group people, animals, and objects.

Student Resources

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

Original Student Tutorials

Searching for Similarities - Part 4: Synonyms and Shades of Meaning:

Explore the small differences in the meanings of synonyms in this interactive tutorial. Join Gemma as she compares, orders, and chooses synonyms based on their shades of meaning.

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

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Places You'll Go!:

Sort and describe words based on categories and key attributes in this interactive tutorial. Visit a circus, zoo, and fire station as you learn to describe and group people, animals, and objects.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

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