CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5

ELA1st GradeVocabulary Acquisition and Use

The Standard

With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students sort familiar words into groups and explain how the words connect. They compare words with close meanings and choose the word that best fits a situation.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can group familiar words, name each group, and describe a shared feature. The student can explain differences among close words and use them correctly.
Common Misconceptions: Students may group words by first letter or appearance instead of meaning. They may treat close words as exact synonyms or confuse a category with an attribute.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Sort apple, banana, carrot, and broccoli into two named groups, then complete, “Stomp is stronger than walk because ___.”

Lesson moves

Give pairs picture cards to sort into groups, then ask them to name each group and explain one shared feature.
Ask, “How are whisper, talk, and shout alike and different?” and have students draw or write an example of each.
Play verb charades with words like walk, march, stomp, and tiptoe, then place the words on a strength line.
Use a grocery advertisement to sort foods into groups and identify attributes such as color, shape, taste, or where they grow.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

See the whole path on the Language progression map.

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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