CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4
The Standard
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6—8 texts and topics.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6—12
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students figure out what technical words, phrases, and symbols mean in a science or technical text. They use sentence clues, diagrams, labels, units, and symbol keys rather than relying only on prior knowledge.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can infer the meaning of an unfamiliar technical term or symbol from nearby words, diagrams, labels, units, and keys. The student gives a context-specific definition and points to supporting evidence.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may use the everyday meaning of words such as cell, force, or table. They may guess at symbols, ignore legends and units, or choose a dictionary definition that does not fit the passage.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: “When the switch is open, the circuit is incomplete, so the bulb goes dark.” Ask students to define open and underline the words that support their answer.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a circuit diagram and symbol key; have them match five symbols to components, then explain each symbol in context.
Post conductor in passages about music and electricity; students discuss how the surrounding details change its meaning.
Play a clue sort where teams match technical terms to definitions, diagrams, and sentence clues, then defend one match.
Students read a medicine label and explain dosage, active ingredient, and warning symbols using nearby text.
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Printable RST.6-8.4 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.11-12.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
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