A. Skip it.

B. Ask the teacher

C. Ask a friend
D. Look it up in the dictionary

Context Clues are words that say,

Stop dont touch that dictionary. The
definition of the word you dont know is
right here in the text!

IS
ARE WAS
IS

WERE MEANS CALLED

IS/ARE
KNOWN
AS

,OR,

SUCH
ARE
CALLED
AS

Dont get lost in a

Blinding
Blizzard of
Words!
Use context
clues to find
the
definitions of
words in the
text you are
reading.

W
or
ds

W
or
ds

W
or
ds
W

W
or
ds

W
or
ds
W
or
ds

or
ds
W
W
or
ds
W
or
ds

or
ds
W

or
d

W
or
d
W

W
W

or
d

or
d

W
or
ds

or
ds

or
ds

W
or
ds

or
d

How to Use Context Clues

If the context clue is one of the following: is, are, was, were, or,
such as, or means, the definition will be found AFTER the word
and the context clue.
If the context clue is: are known as, is known as, is called, or are
called, the definition will be in FRONT of the word you need to
know the meaning of.
Examples:

1. Precipitation is water that falls to the earth as rain or snow.

2. Water that falls to the earth as rain or snow is called precipitation.
3. Flurries are a light snow which falls for a short time.
4. A light snow which falls for a short time is known as flurries.
5. Accumulate means to pile up.
6. In a blizzard, snow accumulates, or piles up.

1. Read each section of text.

2. Use context clues to find the definitions of words in
the questions following each section.
A Unicorn
A unicorn is a mythological animal. Mythological means
made-up, or imaginary. A unicorn is always white and looks
like a small horse with a horn protruding, or sticking out of,
the center of its forehead. It was considered good luck to see a
unicorn.
1. What is a unicorn? _________________________________
___________________________________________________
2. What does mythological mean? _______________________
3. What is another word for imaginary? __________________
4. What does protruding mean? ________________________

A Mammoth
A mammoth was a mammal that lived during the Ice Ages. The Ice
Ages were a time when much of the earth was covered by glaciers, or
slowly moving rivers of ice. A mammoth looked like a hairy elephant
with large tusks which curled up at the ends. The mammoths shaggy
coat helped it survive in the cold. Things which help an animal survive
in its environment are called adaptations. The mammoth had many
adaptations which helped it survive in the Ice Ages.
1. What was a mammoth? ____________________________________
2. What were the Ice Ages? ___________________________________
3. What is a glacier? ________________________________________
4. What are adaptations? _____________________________________

Snowflakes
Snowflakes are a form of winter precipitation. Rain, snow, sleet,
and other types of moisture that fall from the sky are known as
precipitation. Snowflakes are produced, or made, when a clouds
temperature falls beneath 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Snowflakes are
usually in the shape of hexagons. A hexagon is a six-sided shape.
1. What is a snowflake? ______________________________________
2. What is precipitation? _____________________________________
3. What does produced mean? _________________________________
4. What is a hexagon? _______________________________________