
Dictionary Skills Lesson
One • Dictionary
Skills Lesson Three
This is number 2 in a series of lessons designed to
teach students the sometimes forgotten art of using a dictionary and is designed
for students aged 9+ although many teachers will adapt it for younger students.
Curriculum: Written Language, exploring language,
shaping text, editing text.
| Guide Word Drills 1 … what belongs
and what doesn't? |
The use of guide words needs regular practice to be
an effective method of helping students quickly locate words they need to find. Try
the following drills with your class.
Write the following two guide words on the board …
(the first guide word is on the top left page and the second on the top right page).
- ligament
- limitation
Now write the following four words on the board. Tell
the students that two or these words can be found on the pages between the guide
words and that two can not.
- like
- library
- line
- limit
Have students check to find the words which are between
the guide words. Can they say why two of these words were between the guide words
and why two were not? eg library will not be there as the third letter is before
g in the alphabet. Line will not be found there as the third letter n is after the
m of limit in the alphabet.
More examples…
Guide words are flat/flippant
- flavour
- flap (go to letter 4 for reason n is not there)
- flex
- flock
Guide words are cast/caterer
- carry
- cat
- catch
- cause
Have groups select their own sets and challenge the
class to find the words within the guide words.
| Guide Word Drills 2 … finding the meanings
between guide words |
Write a pair of guide words on the board, eg sour/spare
Next write the definition of the meaning of one or
more words which can be found between the guide words of the two pages. The challenge
for the students is to scan the meanings of the words to find the words which fit
the definition given, eg
- the Royal ruler of a country (sovereign- don't include
this)
- a tool for gripping and turning a bolt (spanner)
When the students have cottoned on to this process,
assign groups and/or individuals the task of finding their definitions between pairs
of guide words. Many teachers use this as a daily drill and rotate the task of finding
the definitions around groups. Remember to remind students that they only should
include the definitions - not the actual words.
More examples…
Guide words are probably/ program
Find the words between these guide words
which mean …
- a way of doing something
- an outline - especially of the human
face

Lesson Three
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