Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template

Grade Level/Subject:
Central Focus:
th
5 grade/ Reading
Students will comprehend what they read if they
understand the meaning of the words that are being used.
Essential Standard/Common Core Objective:
R.L 5.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases
Date submitted:
Date
as they are used in a text, including figurative
taught:
language such as metaphors and similes.
Daily Lesson Objective:
Students will be able to determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases in written nonfiction text.
21st Century Skills:
Academic Language Demand (Language Function and
Critical Thinking
Vocabulary):
Comprehension: Students will have Students will be reading, writing, and listening throughout
to comprehend what they read to
the teacher input, guided practice, and independent
figure out the meaning of unknown practice.
words
Prior Knowledge:
Students should know how to comprehend the text that they read and understand the meaning
of context clues.
Activity

1. Focus and Review

2. Statement of
Objective
for Student
3. Teacher Input

Description of Activities and Setting

Students will be called to the front carpet. Hello, Class. I
understand that you guys are researching information for your
argumentative essay. How many of you have come across a
word that you didnt know while you were researching
information for your essay? Students raise their hands. It can
get pretty frustrating when you are reading an article but you
dont understand what it really means because of an
unfamiliar word. Has that ever happened to you? What have
you done whenever that happens? Students share what they
have done. Thats right you can reread the article, look at any
pictures on the article, read the rest of the article, etc.
Today we are going to practice figuring out unknown words in
articles/readings that are just like the articles you have come
across in your research.
Teacher displays the smog in China article on the whiteboard.
So last night, I was reading an article on smog in China and I
came across an unfamiliar word. (Reading from the first
sentence in the 3rd paragraph.) Northern China experiences
year-round air pollution from factory emissions and a huge
number of vehicles on the road. Hmm, factory emissions.

Time

5
minutes

2
minutes

10
minutes

4. Guided Practice

5. Independent
Practice

What does factory emissions mean? Do any of you know what

factory emissions are? To figure out what factory emissions
are, I am going to reread the sentence and look at the picture
in the article. (Rereads the sentence). As Im looking at the
picture, I see really thick smoke or smog and I know in the
article it says that cars and factories are creating this smog.
Whenever I drive by this big factory near my house, I see
smoke coming out of the factory. Im thinking that emission
might mean smoke.
Im going to reread the passage and this time, replace
emission with the word smoke to see if this makes sense.
Northern China experiences year-round air pollution from
factory smoke and a huge number of vehicles on the road.
That makes sense! I understand what the author was trying to
tell me.
I will write this formula on the board: Clues (facts) + schema
(prior knowledge) = inference
We are going to use this formula to figure out the meaning of
unfamiliar words in a few short passages. Formulas arent just
used in math or science, are they? I will then project the
Vocabulary Text Clues worksheet on the smart board and read
the first passage aloud.
What does inundate mean? Are there any context clues in
the text that can help us? Read the passage to yourself
silently and give me a thumbs up when you have found any
context clues. Students reread the passage.
I will ask for volunteers to share any context clues they have
found. As they share, I will write them down on the smart
board.
I will think aloud and say, I know that the prefix of inundate
is in which means into like there are a lot of thing going into
his mind or into his to-do list. If we combine in with our
context clues, what could we infer that the meaning of
inundate is? What are some synonyms for inundate?
I will then reread the sentence, substituting the synonyms the
students have shared. I will then ask which makes the most
sense.
I will give the students worksheets and explain to them that
they are to read a passage, underline or highlight the context
clues used to help with the meaning of the word that is in
bold, circle what they think the meaning is, then write an
explanation of how the context clues helped them understand
the meaning of the word. This work should be worked on

15
minutes

15
minutes

independently and I will walk around the classroom and assist

students who are struggling.
6. Assessment
Methods of
all
objectives/skills:

7. Closure

The students are to complete the worksheet from the Independent

Practice. Students will receive 5 points for circling the correct answer
and 4 points for thoroughly explaining how context clues helped them,
and 1 point for underlining/highlighting the context clues that helped
them.
Today you guys practiced using context clues to figure out to
determine the meaning of unknown words. Now you guys can
2
use the strategies you used today to figure out unfamiliar
minutes
words in the articles you have found for your argumentative
essays!

8. Assessment
Results of
all
objectives/skills:
Targeted Students
Modifications/Accommodations:
Students will difficulty reading from the
smart board will be provided with a physical
copy of the passages.
Materials/Technology:

Student/Small Group
Modifications/Accommodations:
If students are struggling during the Independent
Practice, they will be called to the back table for
extra help.

(Include any instructional materials (e.g., worksheets, assessments PowerPoint/Smart Board slides, etc.) needed to implement the lesson at
the end of the lesson plan.)

Smart board
Super Smog in China article
Vocabulary Inference text
Context clues questions
References:
http://betterlesson.com/lesson/resource/62240/vocabulary-inference-text-clues
http://betterlesson.com/lesson/resource/2591984/super-smog-in-china-article-docx
Reflection on lesson: