Link the keyword with the meaning of the target word
Explain to students that the next step is to create an image of the keyword pelican and the meaning of the target word archipelago interacting in some way. Tell them it is important that the keyword and the meaning actually interact and are not simply presented in the same picture. On the board, sketch a picture of a pelican flying over a group of small islands.
Say: Look at the picture of the pelican flying over the group of islands. Ask: Pelican is the keyword for what word? (archipelago)
Say: Yes, archipelago. To recall the meaning of the word archipelago, imagine a pelican flying over a group of small islands.
Recall the meaning of the target word
Tell students that when they see or hear the word archipelago, they should first think of its keyword and then try to remember the picture of the keyword and the meaning interacting.
Ask: What is the keyword for archipelago? (pelican) In the sketch, where was the pelican flying? (over a group of islands)
Say: Right, over a group of islands. Ask: So what does archipelago mean? (a group of islands)
English Language-Learners: Point out to Spanish-speaking ELLs that archipelago and archipélago are cognates.
Lesson model for: Contextual analysis
Benchmarks
ability to recognize types of semantic context clues
ability to use context clues to infer word meanings
