How to Find Words in a Dictionary Structure English Grammar Primary 6 First Term Lesson Notes Week 2

Subject: English Grammar
Class: Primary 5
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 9 years
Topic: Finding Words in a Simple Dictionary or Long List
Sub-topics:

• Categorizing Words in Alphabetical Order
• Using Guide Words in a Dictionary
• Determining Information About a Word from the Dictionary
  Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Categorize words in alphabetical order.
2. Use the guide words given at the top of each page in a dictionary to search for specific words.
3. Determine additional information about a given word from the dictionary.

Keywords:

• Alphabetical Order
• Guide Words
• Dictionary

Set Induction:

The teacher will begin by asking the pupils if they have ever used a dictionary and what they used it for. This will engage the pupils and introduce the topic of the lesson.

Entry Behaviour:

Pupils are familiar with words and have some understanding of alphabetical order.

Learning Materials:

• A simple dictionary
• A list of words for practice
• Flashcards with words to arrange in alphabetical order

Instructional Materials:

• Whiteboard and markers
• A large dictionary
• Flashcards
• Word lists

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

The teacher will connect the lesson to previous knowledge by reminding pupils of how they organize words by their first letters in activities like word games.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Language skills

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Primary 5 English Textbook

Content:

1. Categorizing Words in Alphabetical Order:

• To categorize words in alphabetical order, arrange the words according to the first letter of each word.
• If the first letters are the same, compare the second letters.
• Examples:
  1. Apple, Ball, Cat, Dog
  2. Orange, Pear, Pineapple, Plum
  3. Book, Bottle, Brush, Bus
  4. School, Sister, Song, Sun
  5. Elephant, Eagle, Egg, Ear

2. Using Guide Words in a Dictionary:

• Guide words are the words at the top of each dictionary page that help you find words quickly.
• The first guide word shows the first word on the page; the second guide word shows the last word on the page.
• Example: If you are looking for the word “garden,” find a page where the guide words might be “gate” and “giraffe.”

3. Determining Information About a Word from the Dictionary:

• Besides meaning, a dictionary provides information such as pronunciation, part of speech, and usage.
• Example:
  • Word: Run
  • Pronunciation: /rʌn/
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • Meaning: To move swiftly on foot.
  • Usage: He can run very fast.

Evaluation:

Fill in the blank with the correct answer:

1. The word “apple” comes _______ (before/after) “banana” in a dictionary.
   a) before
   b) after
2. If you are looking for the word “cat,” on which page might it be found? Between _______ (bird/dog) or (cow/fish).
   a) bird/dog
   b) cow/fish
3. Which word will you find between “elephant” and “giraffe”?
   a) eagle
   b) frog
   c) garden
   d) girl
4. What does the dictionary tell us about the word “run”?
   a) Meaning only
   b) Meaning and part of speech
   c) Meaning, pronunciation, and part of speech
   d) Usage only
5. If “school” is a guide word, which word might appear on that page?
   a) Song
   b) Sister
   c) Schoolboy
   d) Sun
6. Which word comes first in alphabetical order?
   a) Zebra
   b) Yak
   c) Xylophone
   d) Apple
7. The guide words are “ball” and “bat.” Which word will be on that page?
   a) Bad
   b) Bag
   c) Ballot
   d) Bank
8. How many syllables are in the word “elephant”?
   a) Two
   b) Three
   c) Four
   d) Five
9. Which part of speech is “beautiful”?
   a) Noun
   b) Verb
   c) Adjective
   d) Adverb
10. The guide words are “cook” and “copy.” Which word comes after “cook”?
    a) Cool
    b) Copper
    c) Corner
    d) Cotton
11. What is the second letter of the word “orange”?
    a) o
    b) r
    c) a
    d) n
12. Which word would appear on a page with the guide words “hand” and “hat”?
    a) Hard
    b) Happy
    c) Harm
    d) Hate
13. If the guide words are “chair” and “church,” which word would be on that page?
    a) Chalk
    b) Charity
    c) Chew
    d) Churn
14. What part of speech is the word “quickly”?
    a) Noun
    b) Verb
    c) Adjective
    d) Adverb
15. Which word comes last in alphabetical order?
    a) Jump
    b) Jam
    c) Jar
    d) Jog

Class Activity Discussion:

1. How do you arrange words in alphabetical order?
   Answer: Arrange the words according to the first letter, then the second if necessary.
2. What are guide words in a dictionary?
   Answer: Guide words are the words at the top of each page in a dictionary that help you find words quickly.
3. If the guide words are “ant” and “apple,” which word might appear on that page?
   Answer: “Any.”
4. What information can a dictionary provide about a word?
   Answer: A dictionary can provide the word’s meaning, pronunciation, part of speech, and usage.
5. Can you give an example of a word that comes before “ball” in a dictionary?
   Answer: “Bag.”
6. How do you find a word using guide words?
   Answer: You look for a page where the guide words would include your target word.
7. What is the meaning of the word “run” as found in a dictionary?
   Answer: To move swiftly on foot.
8. Which word comes last in alphabetical order: “cat,” “car,” or “cap”?
   Answer: “Cat.”
9. What is the third letter in the word “giraffe”?
   Answer: “r.”
10. What does the part of speech of a word tell us?
    Answer: It tells us how the word functions in a sentence, like whether it is a noun, verb, adjective, etc.
11. How do you know if a word is an adjective or adverb in a dictionary?
    Answer: The dictionary will label it with the part of speech.
12. What is the pronunciation of the word “elephant”?
    Answer: /ˈɛlɪfənt/
13. If the guide words are “desk” and “door,” which word might be found on that page?
    Answer: “Dog.”
14. Which comes first in alphabetical order: “song” or “sun”?
    Answer: “Song.”
15. What is the plural form of the word “child”?
    Answer: “Children.”

Presentation:

Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic, which was “Revision on Verb Forms.” Pupils will recall how they categorized verbs as finite, infinite, regular, and irregular.

Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic as follows: “Today, we will learn how to find words in a simple dictionary or long list by arranging them in alphabetical order, using guide words, and determining other information about the words.”

Step 3: The teacher allows the pupils to give their own contributions by asking them to arrange a few words in alphabetical order and look up words in a dictionary using guide words. The teacher will correct the pupils when and where necessary.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Demonstrate how to arrange words in alphabetical order.
• Show pupils how to use guide words to find specific words in a dictionary.
• Explain the additional information that a dictionary provides about a word.

Learners’ Activities:

• Practice arranging words in alphabetical order.
• Use guide words in a dictionary to find specific words.
• Identify and discuss the different types of information provided in the dictionary about a word.

Assessment:

1. Arrange the words “apple,” “banana,” “carrot,” and “date” in alphabetical order.
2. What is a guide word in a dictionary?
3. How do you find the meaning of the word “run” in a dictionary?
4. Write down a word that comes after “cat” in alphabetical order.
5. What part of speech is the word “quickly”?
6. Find the word “jump” in a dictionary using guide words.
7. How many syllables are in the word “elephant”?
8. What is the plural form of “child”?
9. Which word comes first: “apple” or “banana”?
10. What information does a dictionary give about the word “book”?

Conclusion:

The teacher goes around to mark the pupils’ work, offering praise and corrections where necessary. The teacher emphasizes the importance of knowing how to use a dictionary effectively.