Cluster 3: Vocabulary Acquisition and UseArchived

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General Information
Number: LAFS.2.L.3
Title: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
Type: Cluster
Subject: English Language Arts - Archived
Grade: 2
Strand: Language Standards

Related Standards

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

LAFS.2.L.3.AP.4a
Determine the meaning of a new word formed when a known prefix is added to the known word or root.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.4b
Use knowledge of the meaning of individual words to predict the meaning of compound words.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.4c
Use sentence context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.4d
Use a glossary or beginning dictionary to determine the meaning of a word.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.5a
Distinguish shades of meaning among related verbs and adjectives by defining them or acting out their meaning.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.5b
Use newly acquired words in real-life context.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.6a
Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using adjectives and adverbs to describe (e.g., When other kids are happy that makes me happy).
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.6b
Identify connections with previously understood words to acquire the meaning of a new word (e.g., weeping is like crying).
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.6c
Use newly acquired words in real-life context.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.6d
Use adjectives to describe nouns.
LAFS.2.L.3.AP.6e
Use adverbs to describe verbs.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plans

A Close Look at A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams:

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams is a delightful story of a family who faces the hardships of life together. The focus of these reading lessons is to identify story structure and discuss how the characters responded to challenges. After students complete several learning centers about the book, they will retell the story through writing using grade-appropriate conventions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Can We Ever Have Too Many Toys?:

Using David Shannon's book Too Many Toys, students will practice writing an opinion paragraph.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fun With Compound Words:

In this lesson, students will learn to identify, create, and determine the meaning of compound words. They will participate in a series of engaging center activities to practice using compound words.

Type: Lesson Plan

Listen Up! Having Fun with Sound Words:

In this lesson, students will be able to recognize and decode the use of sound words in literature. Students will practice these skills through a sound game, creating a word web, and making a sound word flip book.

Type: Lesson Plan

Describing Words: Lessons on Adjectives:

In this lesson, students will practice identifying and using adjectives, as well as distinguishing shades of meaning among closely related adjectives. In the summative assessment, students will create their own narrative to describe a real or fictional person and will practice using precise, as well as vivid adjectives throughout their writing.

Type: Lesson Plan

Hamming It Up with Character:

Students will learn about characters in narrative text through group collaboration, the creation of character trading cards and an oral presentation of original dialogue. Students will work in collaboarative groups to think of adjectives that would best describe how the characters look, behave, and feel.

Type: Lesson Plan

Give Me Your Opinion:

Would you rather ride in a spaceship or on a submarine? This is the question the students will ponder as they write an opinion piece, taking it through the writing process.

Type: Lesson Plan

Happy Homophone Pairs:

In this lesson, students will read homophone pairs using Dear, Deer, A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta. Students will identify and explain common homophones using word relationships, context clues, and/or background knowledge. Students will use the homophones correctly in sentences and add illustrations to their sentences that help enhance the meaning of the homophone.

Type: Lesson Plan

Adjectives, Adjectives, and More Adjectives:

In this lesson, students will become familiar with the use of adjectives for the purpose of describing someone or something. Students will use adjectives to describe their teacher and enhance simple sentences by adding adjectives to describe the nouns. Students will also illustrate a self-portrait and use at least six adjectives to describe themselves. They will then choose from those adjectives and write two sentences about themselves using those words. The students will present these sentences and self-portraits to the class. Students will have the opportunity to work individually and with partners throughout this lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

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: Homophone Hunt:

In this activity, students will choose the correct homophone to complete sentences.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Homograph Hitch:

In this activity, students will identify the meanings of homographs by playing a matching game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Spin Sort:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Compound Word Trivia:

In this activity, students will identify the meaning of compound words using their knowledge of the parts of each word.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Game:

In this activity, students will make words containing affixes and use them in a sentence to show meaning while playing an affix game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Match:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Make it Meaningful:

In this activity, students will determine and record the meanings of words with affixes. They will then sort them by affix meaning.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Dissect:

In this activity, students will segment words into base words and affixes to determine the meaning.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Meaningful Affixes:

In this activity, students will make words to match meanings by combining base words and affixes.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Affix Concentration:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Homophone Go Fish:

In this activity, students will match homophones with their meanings by playing a card game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Homograph Hoorah!:

In this activity, students will read two meanings and write the matching homograph.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Antonym Concentration:

In this activity, students will match antonyms by playing a memory game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Antonym Dominoes:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Synonym Bingo!:

In this activity, students will identify synonyms by playing a bingo-like game.

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: Word Fill-In:

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

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 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: 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: Affix Action:

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

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: All For One:

In this activity, students will produce the multiple meanings of words and use the words in sentences that demonstrate understanding of the multiple meanings.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Analogy Soccer:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Ask-A-Word:

In this activity, students will demonstrate a deeper understanding of the meaning of words by completing a questionnaire.

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: 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: 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: Category Clues:

In this activity, students will produce category labels for related words to demonstrate understanding of their shared attributes/meanings.

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: Choice Meanings:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Cloze Encounters:

In this activity, students will choose words based on meaning to complete sentences in a cloze passage.

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: Context Clues:

In this activity, students will read sentences containing context clues and sort by the type of context clue.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Defining Depictions:

In this activity, students will depict words by drawing pictures that relate to their meaning.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Dictionary Cube:


In this activity, students will identify the meaning of words and word-related information using a dictionary.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Dictionary Digs:

In this activity, students will look up target words in a dictionary and record specific information.

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: Get a Clue!:

In this activity, students will determine the meanings of unknown words using context clues.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Hink Pink Think!:

In this activity, students will find Hink Pinks that correspond to meanings by playing a matching game.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Homograph Hook:

In this activity, students will match homographs with their corresponding meanings.

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: Know or No:

In this activity, students will sort words based on their understanding of the words' meanings. They will then determine the meanings of the words and record them.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Looking for Meaning:

In this activity, students will determine the meanings of unknown words and rewrite sentences from text to demonstrate their understanding.

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 Extender:

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

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: 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: 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: Root-A-Word:

In this activity, students will identify and sort words containing the same root.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Root-O!:

In this activity, students will produce words containing the same root and identify their meanings.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Synonym-Antonym Creations:

In this activity, students will produce synonyms and antonyms to match targeted words.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Undercover Meanings:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Up With Words:

In this activity, students will produce more precise alternatives for overused words in context.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: What Do You Mean?:


In this activity, students will match words to their meanings.

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: What-A-Word:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Clues:


In this activity, students will use reference materials to develop clues about target words. They will provide the clues to a partner until the target word is identified.

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 Share:

In this activity, students will find, discuss, record, and define selected words in a text.

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

Vocabulary: Word Web:

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

Type: Student Center Activity

Vocabulary: Word Winner:

In this activity, students will use strategies to identify the meanings of unknown words in context.

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-by-Word:

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

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

Vocabulary: Worn-Out Words:

In this activity, students will produce synonyms as more precise alternatives for overused words.

Type: Student Center Activity

Student Resources

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

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 topic.