Welcome to Context Clues in Informational Text
Informational text is a type of nonfiction text that is used to present factual information about
the world around us. Students encounter informational text as they seek information they want
to know and/or need to know. As students progress through the grades, state and national
standards require them to read, respond to, and write an increasing amount of informational
text. This Teacher’s Note provides information to help you support your students in effective
skills practice using the Key Ideas & Details in Informational Text Activity Cards.
What are context clues? Context clues are hints in the surrounding text about the meaning
of a word or words. They are on-the-page, “self-service” tools authors provide to help readers
discover meaning.
A context clue helps readers understand 1) the meaning of an unfamiliar word, 2) which meaning
the author intends for a multiple-meaning word, or 3) the meaning of a known word used in an
unfamiliar way—for example, in an idiomatic expression.
How can the activities in this strategy pack help your students? Students need
repeated, targeted practice for successful skills mastery. The activities in this strategy pack
provide self-correcting practice in manageable chunks that allow students to read, skim,
and scan authentic content. The sample activity card pictured below shows the features of
each card.
Sample: Card 7 Activity 13
Sharing the Land
definition of selected
text feature
applying the
text feature
additional tips
in Informational Text
Context Clues
7
Activity 13
Tip
A word you know may have
another meaning that you did
not know. Context clues can
help you understand words with
multiple meanings.
in Informational Text
Context Clues
Before the land was a neighborhood, it may have been a
raccoon’s natural 8. habitat. In prairies, woods, and marshes,
raccoons eat frogs, mice, and eggs. In 9. populated areas,
they may not find these foods, or raiding trash cans may be an
easier meal.
extension
activity
Like raccoons, many other wild animals can be 10. displaced
when neighborhoods are built. Deer, skunks, foxes, and opossums
also lose their homes.
Read the passage. Use context clues to help you find the
meanings of the words in bold print.
What do you see when you 1. survey your neighborhood?
You probably see buildings used for homes and businesses.
You also may notice routes for 2. transportation like roads
and sidewalks. You will see many things people built to make it
easier to live on the land.
There are ways to reduce 11. competition for land between
people and animals. When some land is 12. preserved in
its natural state, there are fewer problems with unwelcome
wild animals.
Did You Know?
Context means the words,
phrases, and sentences
surrounding a word or term.
A context clue is a hint found in
the surrounding text.
home
scattered
contest
lived in
movement from
one place
to another
kept
lived in
by people
setting
Reflect/Apply
Write about a wild animal that
lives in your neighborhood.
What are the advantages
and disadvantages of the
neighborhood habitat for
the animal?
relocated
buildings
Imagine what the 3. landscape looked like before people
divided up the land and built homes and other 4. structures.
Before people lived there, the area was 5. inhabited by other
life. In most places, the land was a home for animals first.
Most people don’t like to find trash 6. strewn around their
yards. Raccoons 7. plunder meals from trash cans and don’t
“clean up” after themselves. Why?
look over
Objective: Use context clues to find the meaning of academic vocabulary in informational
text (description).
© ETA hand2mind®
66788
978-0-7406-9449-3
© 2015 by ETA hand2mind®
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
steal
Sharing the Land
in Informational Text
Context Clues
7
Activity 13
Read the passage. Use context clues to help you find the
meanings of the words in bold print.
What do you see when you 1. survey your neighborhood?
You probably see buildings used for homes and businesses.
You also may notice routes for 2. transportation like roads
and sidewalks. You will see many things people built to make it
easier to live on the land.
Did You Know?
Context means the words,
phrases, and sentences
surrounding a word or term.
A context clue is a hint found in
the surrounding text.
Imagine what the 3. landscape looked like before people
divided up the land and built homes and other 4. structures.
Before people lived there, the area was 5. inhabited by other
life. In most places, the land was a home for animals first.
Most people don’t like to find trash 6. strewn around their
yards. Raccoons 7. plunder meals from trash cans and don’t
“clean up” after themselves. Why?
© ETA hand2mind®
Tip
A word you know may have
another meaning that you did
not know. Context clues can
help you understand words with
multiple meanings.
Before the land was a neighborhood, it may have been a
raccoon’s natural 8. habitat. In prairies, woods, and marshes,
raccoons eat frogs, mice, and eggs. In 9. populated areas,
they may not find these foods, or raiding trash cans may be an
easier meal.
Like raccoons, many other wild animals can be 10. displaced
when neighborhoods are built. Deer, skunks, foxes, and opossums
also lose their homes.
There are ways to reduce 11. competition for land between
people and animals. When some land is 12. preserved in
its natural state, there are fewer problems with unwelcome
wild animals.
home
scattered
contest
lived in
movement from
one place
to another
kept
lived in
by people
setting
Reflect/Apply
Write about a wild animal that
lives in your neighborhood.
What are the advantages
and disadvantages of the
neighborhood habitat for
the animal?
relocated
look over
Objective: Use context clues to find the meaning of academic vocabulary in informational
text (description).
buildings
steal
Getting Started With
Four Easy Steps Make
VersaTiles Simple to Use!
®
Set up your VersaTiles Answer Case by placing
the numbered tiles in order from 1–12 in the top
2 rows. Now you are ready to begin your activity.
1
ANSWER QUESTIONS
2
CLOSE AND FLIP
3
MATCH
4
LEARN
Complete each question by placing the number tile
on the letter in the Answer Case that corresponds
to the correct answer.
Close the Answer Case and flip it over. Open the
case and look at the pattern on the tiles.
Check the tile pattern against the pattern in the
Activity Book. If it matches, all answers are correct.
If not, remove tiles that do not match and flip the
case over again.
Rethink the incorrect answer and
flip the Answer Case over again.
Once the pattern in the case and
the book match, the activity has
been successfully completed!
66788C
hand2mind.com
800.445.5985
Connect with us.