Stage 2 reading - Vocabulary in context
Learning focus
Students learn to identify and build meaning around parts of a word, including suffix, prefix and roots. Students learn to use contextual clues to determine best word choice, using a range of tools to further develop and widen vocabulary use and understanding.
Syllabus outcome
- EN2-9B uses effective and accurate sentence structure, grammatical features, punctuation conventions and vocabulary relevant to the type of text when responding to and composing texts
National Literacy Learning Progression
Understanding texts
- UnT6: uses morphological knowledge to explain words (help (base) + less (suffix) = helpless) (process); discusses the vocabulary and visual features of texts (process); uses context and grammar knowledge to understand unfamiliar words (the word vast in the phrase vast desert) (process)
- UnT7: explains how unfamiliar words can be understood using grammatical knowledge, morphological knowledge and etymological knowledge (vocabulary); recognises how synonyms are used to enhance a text (transport, carry, transfer) (vocabulary); draws on knowledge of word origin to work out meaning of discipline-specific terms (universe) (vocabulary)
- UnT8: use knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to read and interpret unfamiliar words (vocabulary); identifies how technical and discipline-specific words develop meaning in texts (vocabulary); recognises how the use of antonyms, synonyms and common idiomatic language enhance meaning in a text (vocabulary); understand precise meaning of words with similar connotations (generous, kind-hearted, charitable) (vocabulary)
NAPLAN item descriptors
The relevant NAPLAN item descriptors are included in the resource, available for download on this page.
Task outline
Full task descriptions are included in the resource, available for download on this page.
Task 1: Morphology
Students look at the definitions of key morphology terms and add different prefixes and suffixes to a base word to change the meaning (three activities).
Task 2: Synonyms and antonyms
Students review synonyms and antonyms (five activities).
Task 3: Connotation and word clines
Using image and word prompts, students create their own word clines (two activities).
Task 4: Predicting words
Students use contextual and semantic clues to predict words (three activities).
Task 5: Word choice
Students find alternative choices for words in a text (four activities).
Task 6: Cloze
Students choose between words and use their own vocabulary in cloze passages (three activities).
Task 7: Vocabulary in context
Students investigate vocabulary in a text (two activities).
