For Word Up Levels: Turquoise, Red, Orange and Indigo
Synonyms
In the first exercise, students must match synonyms. A word that is not from the unit is provided, and students must circle the correct word from the unit that corresponds to its meaning. This exercise should be fairly simple since students can consult the definitions in the clickable lyrics or in their personal word dictionaries if they can't recall a word's meaning. Encourage ELL students to add synonyms in their native language.
Fill in the Blank
In this section, students determine which of the three words fits the meaning of the sentence and then write the word in the space provided. This exercise gives students an opportunity to see how the vocabulary words fit into sentences.
Connections
This exercise requires that students take their knowledge of the word and apply it to various situations. Students read a sentence that exemplifies one of the words from the unit. They then write the correct word below the sentence. When reviewing this exercise, encourage students to explain their choices. In some cases, students may see a connection to a word that wasn't intended but still makes sense.
Challenge your students by having them use the word in a new sentence below the one provided. For example, the sentence "My sister is tall and slow, but I am short and fast," corresponds to the word opposite. It can be turned into: "My sister is tall and slow, but I am the opposite." This extra step will help struggling students make a stronger connection with the word and provide a challenge for those who find the exercise easy.
Applying Meanings
In this section, students answer multiple-choice questions about five of the vocabulary words. This exercise requires students to apply their knowledge of the word's meaning to real-life situations and events. In many cases, it requires some additional knowledge, such as what a tightrope walker is or that a red light is a signal for cars to stop. Encourage students to ask an adult or a peer when they don't know the meaning of a cultural reference.
Reading
Developed explicitly to mirror the type of tasks students must complete on high-stakes state assessments, this exercise asks students to read a high-interest passage and answer reading comprehension questions about it. Most passages are nonfiction and all feature at least five of the unit's vocabulary words used organically throughout. Only rarely do the questions test a student's knowledge of vocabulary directly. Instead, the questions test their reading comprehension, which ultimately reflects their knowledge of vocabulary used in the passages.
You can have students complete the questions by themselves and then compare answers with a partner to discuss which answers they think are correct before you go over the answers as a class.