3rd/4th Grade Academic Vocabulary

Academic Vocabulary

100

Characters, setting, plot (events), problem and solution are part of the .  . . .?

What is Story Elements.  

These essential elements keep the story running smoothly and allow the action to develop in a logical way that the reader can follow.

200

•Problem and Solution

•Description

•Chronological Order

•Sequence

•Cause and Effect

•Compare and Contrast

Types of Text Structure

300

What the story is mostly about.

What is the Central Idea (or Main Idea)?

400

What is a summary?

Short details of a story written/spoken in your own words.

500

Information that supports the central idea.

What are Supporting Details?

Prefixes

100

What are the prefixes in the following words?

unhappy

rebuild

inactive

The prefixes are -un and -re

Definition of  -un: not; opposite of 

Definition of -re: again, back, anew 

Definition of -in: not

Darius can help Ashanti rebuild the play set. 

200

What are the prefixes in the following words?

international

interfere 

The prefixes is inter

The definition: between, among

Damon, please don't interfere with Kevon when he is answering questions. Thank you.

300

What are the prefixes in the following words?

Transfer

superimpose

The prefixes are trans and super

Definitions: trans - across, beyond, change

Definitions: super - above, over excessive

Jaime and King transferred their knowledge to their peers.

Ziyon and Jaden did a superimposed job when teaching the lesson to the class.

400

What are the prefixes in the following words?

antitrust

semicircle

The prefixes are anti and semi

Definitions: anti - opposite

Definitions: partial

Bonus 100 points for sentences.

500

What are the prefixes in the following words?

forerunner; foreshadow

decriminalize; dethrone

The prefixes are fore and de

Definitions: fore - before, in front of

Definitions: de - make opposite of, remove

Bonus 200 points for a sentence for each prefix

Poetry Vocabulary

100

• a repetition of similar sounds in the final stressed syllables and any following syllables of two or more words.

What is a Rhyme?

200

A group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.

What is a Stanza?

300

Writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme.

What is a Verse?

400

Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.

• This is the opposite of a verse which does rhyme

• What is Free Verse?

500

FREE POINTS

FREE POINTS

Text Structures

100

How the author organizes text.

What is Text Structure?

200

• The author provides events in an order or lists steps in a procedure.

What is Sequence?

300

The author gives information about a problem and tells how it is solved.

• What is Problem and Solution?

400

• The author tells of an event and what happens after/because of it.

What is Cause and Effect?

500

A.  The author provides many details about something.

B.  The author tells the similarities and differences about two or more topics or  characters.

A. What is Description?

B. What is Compare and Contrast?

Suffixes

100

What is the suffix in the following words?

careful

mindful

peaceful

The suffix is -ful.

Definition: full of

U'Londyn was very careful (full of care) not to hurt them, when changing her twin brother's diapers. 

200

What is the suffix in the following words?

Encouragement

movement

The suffix is -ment

Definition: action, process, or result

Amoneshia was giving encouragement to her friend when she got the answer wrong. 

300

What is the suffix in the following words?

fortunate

rejuvenate 

The suffix is -ate

Definition: having characteristics of

Brandon was fortunate to have supporting teachers to encourage him to do his best. 

400

What is the suffix in the following words?

active

creative

The suffix is -ive

Definition: having the nature of

Lashanti was very creative when making her map display of Florida.

500

What is the suffix in the following words? 

foolish

accomplish

The suffix is -ish

Definition: having the quality of

Carlton was being foolish at the comedy show, making everyone laugh! 

Figurative Language

100

• What is a Metaphor?

  Examples:

  • My friend's sister, Sharon, is a night owl.
  • My hands were icicles because of the cold weather.

• A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Examples:

• He is a lion when he comes to the field.
• My mom has a heart of gold.

200

What is a Simile?

• Javion is always as busy as a bee.
• My cousin chatters like a monkey.
• Kitty is as proud as a peacock.

A figure of speech in which things different in kind or quality are compared by the use of the word like or as.

Example

• My love is like a red rose.
• My brother and I fight like cats and dogs all the time.

300

• What is a Hyperbole?

  Examples:

  • “I have a ton of homework to do tonight.” 
  • “She's as old as the hills.”
  • “My backpack weighs a ton.”

• Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Example: 

• "I've told you a million times!" 
• "I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse."

400

• What is Personification?

  Examples: 

  • The storm clouds angrily gathered overhead.
  • The ocean waves whispered secrets to the shore.
  • The sun lazily climbed the sky.

• A type of metaphor that gives human characteristics to inanimate objects and animals, such as emotions and behaviors.

Example

• The moon smiled down on the earth.
• The leaves rustled in the wind, gossiping with each other.

500

Identify each sentence: metaphor, hyperbole, personification, or simile.

1. I felt like the food kept calling me.
2. Her smile was a mile long
3. As blind as a bat.
4. I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel. 

1. What is personification?
2. What is hyperbole?
3. What is simile?
4. What is metaphor? 

Academic Vocabulary 3

100

The message, lesson, or moral of the text.

 NOTE: It must be universal. 

What is Theme?

Example:
Life can take you down many roads
Accept the differences of others.
Be happy with  what you have.

200

Title, Graphs, pictures, bold text, glossary, index, captions, subtitles.

What are Text Features?

300

• defines a character thoughts, feelings, personality, based on their actions.

Examples: honesty, kindness, caring, mean, scary

What are Character Traits?

400

•The author's perspective or stance on a topic.

What is the Author's Point of View (POV)?

500

The author tells the similarities and differences about two or more topics or  characters.

What is Compare and Contrast?