Strategy Spotlight:
Context Clue Carousel
A pre-reading strategy for inferring the meaning of unknown words
Materials needed:
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The Unstoppable Ruby Bridges, (pp. 20-25) Storyworks, FEBRUARY 2017
Context Clue Carousel Word Meaning Cards
Context Clue Carousel Activity Sheet
Before the lesson: The teacher places each of the Context Clue Carousel Word
Meaning Cards around the classroom in separate locations (in order starting with
number 2).
Step 1:
Use the Teacher Model Word Meaning Card to
demonstrate finding the bolded word in the text, then
reading before, though, and after the sentence
containing the vocabulary word. Model by thinking
aloud how to use the context clues to infer the
meaning of the unknown word, relying on the text to
give the meaning.
Step 2:
Divide students into six groups,
and assign each group a number 27. Give each student the “Context
Clue Carousel Activity sheet”. Each
group will begin at the
corresponding number Word
Meaning Card location they are
assigned and rotate clockwise (2
goes to 3, 3 to 4, etc.) At each
Word Meaning Card location,
groups will work together to use
context clues in the play to infer the meaning of each word.
Context Clue Carousel
A pre-reading Skill for inferring the meaning of unknown words
Groups will discuss and work together to determine the correct answer on the
“Context Clue Carousel Activity Sheet.
Step 3:
Give each group about 2-3 minutes to determine meaning of each vocabulary
word as it is used in the text. Explain that each group will listen for the carousel
music which is the signal to rotate to the next Word Meaning Card.
Allie Curtis & Shannon Seigler, 2017
Context Clue Carousel
A pre-reading Skill for inferring the meaning of unknown words
*Note: The sound we use can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi7srVEHJ0w
Step 4:
Once all groups have rotated
through the six Word Meaning
Card locations, the teacher
will facilitate discussion about
what the students think the
text will be about based on
their manipulation with
vocabulary words within the
text.
Step 5:
Direct Instruction using the Storyworks
Vocabulary Slideshow - Teacher will
facilitate discussion and direct instruction for
each vocabulary word and reveal the correct
answer to each word on the “Context Clue
Carousel
Activity
Sheet”.
Allie Curtis & Shannon Seigler, 2017