Kindergarten · English Language Arts and Reading
Quarter 2 · Week 2 · TEKS
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This kindergarten lesson focuses on helping students use picture dictionaries and digital resources to find words and understand their meanings. Students will learn to use illustrations and texts they can read or hear to clarify word meanings, supporting vocabulary development and expressive language skills. The lesson aligns with TEKS standards TEKS.ELA.K.03A and TEKS.ELA.K.03B and includes direct teaching, guided practice, and reflection.
Students should be familiar with basic book handling skills and have experience listening to and speaking about stories or texts.
A picture dictionary is a book that shows pictures alongside words to help learners understand the meaning of new words. Digital resources can be apps or websites that provide pictures, sounds, and definitions to support word learning. Both tools help students find words and understand what they mean by connecting words to images and sounds.
Illustrations are pictures that help explain the meaning of words. When students see a picture next to a word, they can use the image to understand what the word means. For example, a picture of a dog next to the word 'dog' helps students connect the word to the animal. This is especially helpful for words they cannot read yet.
1. Identify the word you want to find or learn about. 2. Look for the word in the picture dictionary or type it into the digital resource. 3. Find the picture or illustration that matches the word. 4. Listen to or read the word and its meaning if available. 5. Use the picture and text to understand the word's meaning. 6. Practice saying the word and using it in a sentence.
Using these resources helps students build their vocabulary by connecting words to images and sounds. It also supports expressive language as students learn to use new words in speaking and writing. Teachers can encourage students to talk about the pictures and words, ask questions, and use new vocabulary in their own sentences.
Some students may think that all words have pictures or that the picture dictionary has every word they want. Teachers should explain that picture dictionaries focus on common words and that digital resources can help find more words. Also, students might rely only on pictures and not listen to or read the words; teachers should model combining both to understand word meanings.
Look at the picture dictionary page with animals. Find the word 'cat' and look at its picture. What does the picture show?
The picture shows a small furry animal with whiskers and a tail, which helps students understand that 'cat' means this animal.
The picture shows a cat, a small furry animal with whiskers and a tail.
Use the digital resource to find the word 'sun'. What does the picture look like, and what does the word mean?
The digital resource shows a bright yellow circle with rays, representing the sun. This helps students connect the word to the sun in the sky.
The picture shows a bright yellow sun with rays. The word means the sun in the sky that gives light and warmth.
Show students a picture dictionary and a tablet with a digital word resource. Ask if they have seen books or apps that help find words.
Look at the picture dictionary and tablet, share if they have used similar tools before.
This activity introduces students to the tools they will use to find and learn words, activating prior knowledge.
Read a short story aloud with clear illustrations. Pause to point to pictures and ask students what the pictures show and what words might mean.
Listen to the story, look at the pictures, and answer questions about the images and words.
Students use illustrations to clarify word meanings in context, practicing TEKS.ELA.K.03B.
Model how to use the picture dictionary to find a word. Show how to look at the picture and read the word aloud. Then demonstrate using the digital resource to find the same word.
Watch the teacher model and then try finding words using the picture dictionary and digital resource with guidance.
This phase teaches students the process of using resources to find and understand words, addressing TEKS.ELA.K.03A.
Provide word cards with pictures and words. Have students work in pairs to find the words in the picture dictionary or digital resource and explain their meanings to each other.
Work with a partner to find words and use pictures to explain what the words mean.
This activity reinforces the skill by encouraging students to use resources independently and explain word meanings, supporting expressive vocabulary use.
Ask students to choose a word from the picture dictionary or digital resource and tell the class what the word means using the picture and text.
Select a word and explain its meaning to the class using the resource and illustration.
This exit task assesses students' ability to use resources to find and explain word meanings, demonstrating mastery of TEKS.ELA.K.03A and TEKS.ELA.K.03B.
Listen to the story, look at the pictures, and answer questions about the images and words.
What is a picture dictionary?
A picture dictionary is a book that shows pictures next to words to help understand what the words mean.
How can pictures help you learn new words?
Pictures show what the word means, so they help you understand the word better.
Find the word 'dog' in a picture dictionary or digital resource. What does the picture show?
The picture shows a dog, which is an animal with four legs and a tail.
Why is it helpful to use both pictures and words when learning new vocabulary?
Using both pictures and words helps you understand the meaning better because the picture shows what the word means and the word tells you the name.
Explain how you would use a digital resource to find the meaning of a word you do not know.
I would type the word into the digital resource, look at the picture and listen to or read the word's meaning, then use the picture and text to understand the word.
Provide one-on-one guidance when using the picture dictionary or digital resource. Use simple, familiar words and clear pictures for practice.
Use bilingual picture dictionaries if available. Pair students with peers who speak the same home language for support.
Encourage students to use new vocabulary words in sentences. Have students explore more complex digital resources with audio features.
Ask families to explore a picture dictionary or digital word resource with their child at home and talk about new words they find together.
In this lesson, students learned how to use picture dictionaries and digital resources to find words and understand their meanings. They practiced using illustrations and texts to clarify word meanings and shared new vocabulary expressively. These skills support their growing language and reading abilities, helping them become confident word learners.
Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.