The University of Iowa

Vocabulary - Grade 3 Students

Connect oral vocabulary to words in print (RL.3.4), (L.3.5)

  • Identify, explain, and use figurative and descriptive language

Determine the relationships among words (RI.3.4), (L.3.5)

  • Draw and use semantic maps and organizers to convey word relations
  • Categorize words hierarchically
  • Identify and use idioms, homophones, and homographs in context1

Use context to determine word meaning (L.3.4)

  • Use context within and beyond a sentence to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words

Apply common affixes and roots to determine word meaning (L.3.4)

  • Identify the meaning of and use words with the suffixes “–ion,” “tion,” and “sion”
  • Identify the meaning of and use words with the affixes such as “im-“ (“into”), “non-,” “dis-,” “in-“ (“not,” “non”), “pre-,” “-ness,” “-y,” and “–ful”

English learner and bilingual footnotes

1 Realizing the number of homophones that exist in English is important for ELs, particularly for those whose native language contains few or no homophones (e.g., Spanish).

Skill: