Lesson 1 – Amazing Words
Elizabeth Doré
Objective: Students will explore, investigate, and define new vocabulary words relating to the question –
“What inspires people to act courageously.” (Unit 1 Reading Street)
[This activity will act as the opening lesson to a Travel Theme to be used throughout the year.]
Do Now: Students will respond to the question, in their writer’s notebooks as the opening activity. “What
inspires people to act courageously?”
Materials: Postcards from summer travels, (or index cards,) vocabulary words from Amazing Words in
Reading Street, labels for simple directions, vocabulary words, and students’ addresses, chart paper, markers,
dictionaries, access to a computer, Frayer Model worksheet (see attached).
Any vocabulary words and introductory question will work with this lesson. Amazing Words from Unit 1 in
Reading Street are:
revive
terrified
bravery
heroine
anticipate
ferocity
expedition
treacherous
trepidation
audacity
Procedure:
Teacher  Collect postcards from summer travels (or use index cards when the students arrive in class)
 Create heterogeneous groups of 3-5 students assigning one word per group
 Print and affix a label with one Amazing Word on each postcard
 If mailing postcards during the summer, print simple directions on another label such as:
“Welcome to Fifth Grade! Investigate your word and bring the postcard to school the first day. Have
fun!”
 Finally, print student address labels for mailing the postcards
 Mail postcards to students’ homes at least one week before school opens
 Within first week of school, model the Frayer Method for how to define and use new vocabulary words
 Hint: Be sure to prepare additional cards with vocabulary words, for any students who do not bring
theirs to school
Students –
 Receive postcard before school opens
 Investigate and define word on postcard, being prepared to share on the 1st day
 Students will gather in a group of students who have the same word
 They will share their postcards, and begin to discuss the vocabulary word on their cards
 Students will share initial findings about their word
 They will work as a team using the Frayer Model (see attached) to define their word, find the part of
speech, write a personal sentence, and draw a picture to illustrate the sentence
 Students will write the definition, part of speech, and agree upon a sentence and illustration to include
on a large piece of chart paper using the Frayer Model
Closure: Each group will share the Frayer Model on chart paper, including the definition, part of speech,
personal sentence using the word, and the illustration. The charts will hang around the classroom for reference
throughout the week.
Follow up: The students will sort the words into a concept map (see attached) as they relate to the question:
“What inspires people to act courageously?”
The Amazing Words will appear in literature throughout the week, and the students will begin to use the words
in both spoken and written language.
Notes: This lesson can be adapted for any unit or subject using an essential question and related vocabulary.
[It is specifically, a launch of the Travel Theme where students will be “traveling” both literally and
metaphorically through the curriculum during the year. I have sent postcards from my summer travels
in both Costa Rica, and the Northwestern United States and Canada. This is to start conversations about
the northern hemisphere, climate, rainforests, animals, cultures, and languages.]