Word Detectives

Using the clues to figure out

unknown words.
Use Clues

Detectives use Readers can use

clues to solve a context clues
mystery. figure out words they
to don’t know.
Context

Context is the words

or sentences that
surround a word
Context Clues

Context clues are the words or sentences

around the word you don’t know that
help you to figure it out.

Re-read the sentence before and after the

sentence the word is in.
Think, “what fits here?”
Context Clues – Here’s an Example

unknown word

John was having trouble removing the

cap from his bottle. He just couldn’t get it
off.
Context Clues – Here’s an Example
unknown word
context

John was having trouble removing the

cap from his bottle. He just couldn’t get it
off.
Context Clues – Here’s an Example

context unknown word

John was having trouble removing the

cap from his bottle. He just couldn’t get it
off.

context clues
Let’s Try it

• Now we’re going to try the strategy.

First we’ll read a passage from the book
about the Great Wall as a shared
reading.
Then I will demonstrate using the
strategy to figure out an
unknown word.
Shared Reading

• Ch’in Shih Huang Ti was right. The Great Wall was

so strong that the Mongols did not threaten China
again for more than 1,000 years. Later other
emperors improved Ch’in Shih Huang Ti’s Great
Wall. The last improvements were made by the Ming
Emperors between A.D. 1368 and 1644. Today the
Great Wall creeps across northern China like a
wounded dragon. Sections of the 3,750 miles of wall
lie in ruin. However, the People’s Republic of China
is fixing the Great Wall. The Wall will remain a
testament to China’s long history, her strength and
the constant toil of her people.
Dates – “A.D.”

• Ch’in Shih Huang Ti was right. The Great Wall was

so strong that the Mongols did not threaten China
again for more than 1,000 years. Later other
emperors improved Ch’in Shih Huang Ti’s Great
Wall. The last improvements were made by the Ming
Emperors between A.D. 1368 and 1644. Today the
Great Wall creeps across northern China like a
wounded dragon. Sections of the 3,750 miles of wall
lie in ruin. However, the People’s Republic of China
is fixing the Great Wall. The Wall will remain a
testament to China’s long history, her strength and
the constant toil of her people.
New Words - toil

• Ch’in Shih Huang Ti was right. The Great Wall was

so strong that the Mongols did not threaten China
again for more than 1,000 years. Later other
emperors improved Ch’in Shih Huang Ti’s Great
Wall. The last improvements were made by the Ming
Emperors between A.D. 1368 and 1644. Today the
Great Wall creeps across northern China like a
wounded dragon. Sections of the 3,750 miles of wall
lie in ruin. However, the People’s Republic of China
is fixing the Great Wall. The Wall will remain a
testament to China’s long history, her strength and
the constant toil of her people.
Shared Reading

• Ch’in Shih Huang Ti was right. The Great Wall was

so strong that the Mongols did not threaten China
again for more than 1,000 years. Later other
emperors improved Ch’in Shih Huang Ti’s Great
Wall. The last improvements were made by the Ming
Emperors between A.D. 1368 and 1644. Today the
Great Wall creeps across northern China like a
wounded dragon. Sections of the 3,750 miles of wall
lie in ruin. However, the People’s Republic of China
is fixing the Great Wall. The Wall will remain a
testament to China’s long history, her strength and
the constant toil of her people.
• Ch’in Shih Huang Ti was right. The Great Wall was
so strong that the Mongols did not threaten China
again for more than 1,000 years. Later other
emperors improved Ch’in Shih Huang Ti’s Great
Wall. The last improvements were made by the Ming
Emperors between A.D. 1368 and 1644. Today the
Great Wall creeps across northern China like a
wounded dragon. Sections of the 3,750 miles of wall
lie in ruin. However, the People’s Republic of China
is fixing the Great Wall. The Wall will remain a
testament to China’s long history, her strength and
the constant toil of her people.
• Ch’in Shih Huang Ti was right. The Great Wall was
so strong that the Mongols did not threaten China
again for more than 1,000 years. Later other
emperors improved Ch’in Shih Huang Ti’s Great
Wall. The last improvements were made by the Ming
Emperors between A.D. 1368 and 1644. Today the
Great Wall creeps across northern China like a
wounded dragon. Sections of the 3,750 miles of wall
lie in ruin. However, the People’s Republic of China
is fixing the Great Wall. The Wall will remain a
testament to China’s long history, her strength and
the constant toil of her people.
Work Period – What to do

• Khrystyna, Alberto, Alejandro, Marlene and Zhicheng

will work on another page from the book about the
Great Wall. Your job is to look at the words and the
pictures and try to figure out what the underlined
word means. Once you finish, you may read a book
from your book baggy.
• David, Samvel and Erica will be working with
me, please go to the round table.
• The rest of the students will read a non-
fiction book
from your book baggies. If you come across a word
you don’t know, try to use context clues to figure out
what it means. Write down the word on a post-it
and be prepared to share how you tried to figure it
out.