Context Clues
The bridge swayed in the wind.
What does swayed mean?
a. rose
b. broke
c. flew
d. moved
d. moved
What is a main idea? The most important....
The main idea is the
Most Important Point
What the story is mostly about.
The students were working quietly at their desks. Suddenly a loud, high-pitched buzzing sound blares from the classroom speaker. The sound does not stop.
What will happen next?
What makes you think so?
The students will line up and go outside.
Because if students are at their desks, then they are at school. A loud, high-pitched buzzing at school is probably a fire alarm.
Jayla glanced at the clock. There were 4 seconds left. If she made the shot, her team would win. She jumped up, released the ball, and watched as it seemed to travel in slow motion. Then, as it sank through the hoop, the crowd went wild!
What is Jayla doing?
How do you know?
Playing basketball.
I heard clues like "make a shot" and "sank through the hoop".
Are prefixes added to the front or back of a base word?
Prefixes are added to the front of a base word.ex: "tri" + "cycle" = tricycle
Our team beat the Tigers at last night's baseball game.
What does beat mean?
a. to stir very quickly
b. got a higher score
c. hit with a stick or bat
b. got a higher score
Where can you find the main idea in a paragraph?
The beginning, middle or end?
You can find the main idea usually at the beginning, but sometimes at the end. Never in the middle.
Kelly's dog loves to go on walks with her around the neighborhood. The only problem is that he tries to chase other dogs when he sees them. It is a sunny day so Kelly takes her dog out for a long walk. They go around the block. Kelly sees a dog walking towards them.
What will happen next?
What makes you think so?
Kelly's dog will try to chase the other dog.
Because he often tries to chase dogs when he sees them. They are out on a walk and another dog is coming.
Matt put his cereal bowl in the sink. He looked out his kitchen window out to the street. "Oh no!" he thought. "Mr. Dawson will be angry with me if I'm late again!" He grabbed his backpack and raced outside. Luckily, he got there just before the doors closed.
What did Matt see outside?
He saw the school bus.
I think it is morning because he was eating cereal. After he looked outside he grabbed his backpack and went outside. He is probably going to school. One way to get to school is the school bus. Mr. Dawson is probably the school bus driver. School buses also have doors that open/close.
The prefix "un-" as in unfair or unlucky means...
The prefix "un-" means "not"
unfair= NOT fair
unlucky= NOT lucky
A rock will plummet to the bottom of a pot filled with water.
What does plummet mean?
a. a puff of smoke
b. to fall
c. a place to boil water
b. to fall
What type of animal is a koala? Many people say that a koala is a type of bear. That is incorrect. Koalas are more closely related to kangaroos than bears! They belong to the marsupial family. Female koalas have pouches, just like a kangaroo. When a baby koala is born, it is about the size of a jellybean. It crawls into its mother’s pouch. It stays there for about 7 months as it grows. The next time you hear someone refer to these animals as koala bears, tell them what you’ve learned. “Koala” is the correct name for this animal.
Which of the following sentences best states the main idea of the passage?
A. Koalas are popular animals.
B. Koalas are not bears; they are marsupials.
C. Koalas are like kangaroos because they live in Australia.
D. Koalas are endangered.
B. Koalas are not bears; they are marsupials.
Dad an Andy were at a baseball game. "What's the score?" Andy asked. "Five to four," said dad. "It's right there on the scoreboard, can't you see it?" Andy looked at the direction that Dad was pointing. "It's too blurry to read." Andy replied.
What will happen next?
What makes you think so?
Andy will get glasses.
Because he was struggling to read the scoreboard: the words and numbers were too blurry.
People kept coming over to visit Rachel's family. They brought food and gifts. Many of the visitors asked Rachel how she liked being a big sister.
Why were so many people coming over to visit Rachel's family?
How do you know?
Rachel's mom just had a baby.
People are coming over to see the new baby and are bringing gifts. People ask Rachel how she likes being a big sister.
The prefix "pre-" as in "preheat" or "preschool" means...
The prefix "pre-" means "before"
Preheat= to heat before you cook
Preschool= school you go to before grade school
Even in the dark, I could make out the figure of a dog in the trees.
What does figure mean?
a. a character in a book
b. to add up numbers
c. a shape
c. a shape
What type of animal is a koala? Many people say that a koala is a type of bear. That is incorrect. Koalas are more closely related to kangaroos than bears! They belong to the marsupial family. Female koalas have pouches, just like a kangaroo. When a baby koala is born, it is about the size of a jellybean. It crawls into its mother’s pouch. It stays there for about 7 months as it grows. The next time you hear someone refer to these animals as koala bears, tell them what you’ve learned. “Koala” is the correct name for this animal.
Which detail tells more about the main idea?
A. A baby koala is about the size of a jellybean.
B. A baby koala lives in its mother’s pouch for
about 7 months.
C. Koalas live in trees and eat leaves.
B. A baby koala lives in its mother’s pouch for
about 7 months.
Jose's teacher was handing back the science tests today. Jose was sweating and nervous because he knew he should have spent more time studying for the test. He was watching YouTube videos all night instead of looking at his science notes.
What will happen next?
What makes you think so?
He did bad/failed the science test.
He watched YouTube instead of looking at his science notes. He was sweating and nervous.
One hot afternoon, the school doors burst open and students spilled out, smiling and laughing. Some of the girls hugged, not sure if they'd see each other for a while. As the students climbed into cars and busses, the principal called out, "see you next year!"
What day is it?
How do you know?
It is the last day of school.
Students are really excited- laughing and smiling. Girls are hugging because they might not see each other over the summer. Principal yelled, "see you next year!"
The suffix "-est" as in "tallest" or "hungriest" means...
The suffix "-est" means most
tallest= most tall
hungriest= most hungry
The movie took so long and took what seemed like an eternity.
What does eternity mean?
a. a very long time
b. a short time
c. boring
d. fun
a. a very long time
What type of animal is a koala? Many people say that a koala is a type of bear. That is incorrect. Koalas are more closely related to kangaroos than bears! They belong to the marsupial family. Female koalas have pouches, just like a kangaroo. When a baby koala is born, it is about the size of a jellybean. It crawls into its mother’s pouch. It stays there for about 7 months as it grows. The next time you hear someone refer to these animals as koala bears, tell them what you’ve learned. “Koala” is the correct name for this animal.
Which would be the best title for this passage?
A. The Female Koala
B. Facts about Koalas
C. Animals that Live in Australia
D. Is a Koala Really a Bear?
D. Is a Koala Really a Bear?
Mrs. Tuttle was walking down the street with her twin 4 year olds. She saw a pretty china bowl in a store window and decided to go into the china store to see how much it costs. While she was talking to the salesman, one of her twins picked up a china tea cup.
What will happen next?
What makes you think so?
The twin will drop or break the tea cup.
Because china is a type of glass that breaks easily. 4-year-olds don't know this and are not always careful.
Carlos looked down at the people below. It was a little scary to be so high, but he knew he was safe. The sun felt hot. Carlos decided to buy a snow cone when he was on the ground again.
Where is Carlos?
How do you know?
Carlos is up high, but safe. He is at a place where there are lots of people and he can buy a snow cone. Sounds like he is on a ride at an amusement park. A ride that goes up high is the Ferris Wheel.
The suffix "-er" as in "hungrier" and "taller" means...
The suffix "-er" means "more"
hungrier= more hungry (than someone else)
taller= more tall (than someone else)