Introduce vocabulary: Chrysanthemum (Henkes, 1991)

From FreeReading

Activity Type: Introduce

Activity Form: Standard

Grade: K, 1

Group Size: Small Group, Whole Class

Length: 30 minutes

Materials: Chrysanthemum, Kevin Henkes

Goal: Given a word, the student can say its meaning

Items: begrudge, indescribable, inform, precious, scarcely, wilt

What to do

1. If more than three words are listed below, choose three. (It's tough for students to take in more than three new words in one go.) Write the three words on sentence strips (so they can easily be displayed after the lesson).
2. I'm going to read a new book to you today. It's called Chrysanthemum. It uses some words you might not know, so I'm going to tell you the words now. Then, when I read the story, I want you to raise your hand when you hear the word. Okay?
3. Tell students the three words and their meanings. Have them repeat the words back to you.
4. Remember, when you hear any of our three words, raise your hand. Ready?
5. Read the story. Praise students who correctly identify the words as you read. Repeat each word's meaning as you encounter it.
6. When you finish reading, go through the three words giving the complete sequence below for each word. You can give the examples/non-examples either to the whole group or to individual students. Feel free to add your own examples and non-examples, particularly if students seem unclear.
7. Optionally, read the story again.
8. Students need to encounter a word multiple times before learning it. So:
   • Try to find opportunities to use the three words during other activities in the next 24 hours.
   • Ask students to use the word themselves and praise them strongly when they do.
   • Be particularly excited about usage in contexts different from that in the book you read, since students often have difficulty dissociating a word and the specific context in which they first came across it.

begrudge

• Begrudge means to want what someone else has. What's the word?
• It's a waste of time to begrudge the birds their wings. If you want your brother's candy, you might say you begrudge him his candy.
• I'm going to name some items. If you would want the item if it belonged to someone else, say begrudge. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • A fun toy
  • A yummy meal
  • A blister
  • A puppy
  • A sunburn

indescribable

• Indescribable means something that can not be put into words. What's the word?
• The sunny day was so beautiful it's indescribable. When you cannot think of words to say what happened, you could say it's indescribable.
• I'm going to name some things. If you think the thing can not be put into words, say indescribable. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • How to fly like a bird
  • How to make brownies
  • How to use a lawn mower
  • What show is on TV
  • What the moon feels like

inform

• Inform means to tell. What's the word?
• The woman informed her husband that she was tired. You can inform someone about your favorite meal.
• I'm going to say some words. If you can tell me what the word means, say inform. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • Cold
  • Intrepid
  • Scathing
  • Easy
  • Scratch

precious

• Precious means something is very special. What's the word?
• The boy loves all dogs, but the little puppy was the most precious. You are precious to your parents.
• I'm going to name some items. If you think this item is very special, say precious. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • Your favorite toy
  • A tin can on the side of the road
  • An old tire
  • A baby
  • A book your mom has from when she was little

scarcely

• Scarcely means not much, or just a little bit. What's the word?
• I was scarcely worried about riding my bike in the rain. If there's not much light in your room, you could say, I can scarcely see.
• I'm going to name some items. If you don't use the item very often, say scarcely. Otherwise, stay quiet. Ready?
  • Your pencil
  • Your shoes
  • Your mom's vacuum cleaner
  • Your best outfit
  • Your toothbrush

wilt

• Wilt means to bend over and dry up. What's the word?
• Flowers will wilt in the hot sun. Sometimes if you play hard without drinking water you feel like you will wilt.
• I'm going to name some things. If you think the thing could get dried up without water, say wilt. Otherwise, just stay quiet. Ready?
  • A bouquet of flowers
  • A little tree
  • A rock
  • A store
  • A weed