Kentucky Reading and Writing L.1.5.d

ELA1st GradeLanguage

The Standard

L.1.5: With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Define or act out the shades of meaning among verbs (e.g., look, peek, glance) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic).

Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing (2025) · Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare words that name similar actions or qualities. They act out verbs and explain why one adjective fits better than another.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student peeks from behind a book, glances quickly, and stares for several seconds. They choose gigantic for an object much bigger than one they call large.
Common Misconceptions: Students may use peek, glance, and stare as if all three mean the same thing. They may call anything big gigantic, without noticing that gigantic suggests a much greater size.
How to Assess It: Show pictures of a child peeking around a door and staring at a poster. Ask students to name each action, explain the difference, and choose large or gigantic for a ball that fills a doorway.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a book to hide behind, then have them act out peek, glance, and stare while a partner names each action.
Draw two bears of very different sizes and ask, 'Which one is gigantic? What does that word tell us that big does not?'
Play word charades with cards labeled whisper, speak, and shout; classmates guess the word and name the clue.
At recess, have a partner stroll, then sprint across a marked space; choose a verb for each trip and explain why.

Free download

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

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

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