Introduce Vocabulary: Welcome to the Ice House (Yolen)

From FreeReading

What to Do

Prepare

Select three Tier Two vocabulary words to teach your students. A list of suggested words appears below. Write the vocabulary words on the board or on chart paper.

Model/Instruct

1. Introduce the story.

Today we are going to read a story entitled Welcome to the Ice House.

2. Introduce the three vocabulary words you have chosen.

Before we read the story, I want to introduce some new words that we will come across. Please repeat each word after I say it.

3. Read the story.

Let’s read the story. Make sure to listen for today’s vocabulary words and to think about how they are used in the story. If you hear a vocabulary word while I am reading, raise your hand.

4. Define key vocabulary words. See definitions below.

Let’s think about our vocabulary words. The word ______________ means ____________. Does anyone remember how this word was used in the text?

Call on students to answer the question. Then refer to the text to show how the word was used in context. Repeat this process for each vocabulary word.

Practice

Now let’s practice what we’ve learned.

beware

Beware means to be careful of something. What’s the word?

The sign on the fence said, “Beware of the dog.” Are you the one who told me to beware of the soft cement?

I’m going to name some words that might be on a sign at the zoo. If you think the sign is telling you to be careful, say beware. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• Look out
• Hot dogs $1.00
• Caution
• Watch out for the bears
• Restrooms

lingers

Lingers means to wait or stay around a long time. What’s the word?

I lingered around outside the restaurant to see if they would have a special on soup. You should come right back to the classroom instead of lingering in the hallway.

I’m going to name some places. If you think it’s OK to stay around the place for a long time, say linger. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• The library
• Your bedroom
• The middle of a busy street
• The ATM when someone else wants to use it
• The public bathroom

stalks

Stalks means to follow and hunt. What’s the word?

It’s cute to watch a kitten stalk grasshoppers. When you play hide and seek, do you stalk the other players?

I’m going to name some animals. If you think the animal will follow and hunt another animal, say stalk. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• A lion
• A mouse
• A fox
• A deer
• A rabbit

unpredictable

Unpredictable means something that is difficult to guess. What’s the word?

The little child was unpredictable, because sometimes he was happy and then he’d be mad right away. The weather in the mountains is so unpredictable; you never know if it will be warm or cold.

I’m going to name some things. If you think the thing cannot be guessed, say unpredictable. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?

• The number that will come up when you throw a die
• The card that will be turned over in a deck of cards
• The sunrise
• Whether it will rain this afternoon
• How many red cars will drive by this afternoon

Adjust

For Advanced Students:

If time permits, have students create more examples for the vocabulary words.

For Struggling Students:

If time permits, have students record the words on a Vocabulary Discovery Chart or in a Word Journal.

For ELL Students:

In order to help ELL students learn the words, it may be helpful to use realia and/or to teach cognates.

Related activities

• All Vocabulary Activities