Using New Vocabulary · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Trying Out a New Word

English · Vocabulary · ages 5-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Mia wants her animal report to sound interesting. Which word should she try?

    • A word she already knows well, like 'big'
    • A topic word like 'nocturnal'
    • No new words at all

  2. Leo hears the word 'gigantic' in a read-aloud book. Later he talks to his friend. What could Leo do?

    • Say 'gigantic' when he talks about something huge
    • Never say the word again
    • Only think it, not say it

  3. A new word can be used in more than one kind of sentence.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Zoe is writing about her trip to the zoo. Which sentence uses an interesting new word best?

    • The enormous elephant sprayed water.
    • The big animal did stuff.
    • It was fun at the zoo.

  5. Sam heard 'enormous' while his teacher read aloud. At recess he says, 'That slide is enormous!' What did Sam do?

    • Copied the book word for word
    • Forgot the new word
    • Used a new word from the read-aloud in his talk

  6. You should only use a new word the exact same way you first heard it.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Kim and Jay both read a book about bears. Kim later writes 'the enormous bear roared' in her own story. Jay never says the word again. Who shows they really learned the word?

    • Both the same amount
    • Jay, because he remembers quietly
    • Kim, because she used it in her own writing

  8. Ana learned 'furious' means very angry. Later she says, 'My tiny cut feels furious.' Did she use the word right?

    • Yes, furious can mean any strong feeling
    • No, furious is for anger, not pain
    • No, new words should never be reused
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_NP101Zl-4g-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Trying Out a New Word W1-mt_NP101Zl-4g-s1

  1. A topic word like 'nocturnal' · Trying a topic-specific word makes writing more interesting and shows what she learned.
  2. Say 'gigantic' when he talks about something huge · Using a word he just heard, in his own talk, is exactly how new vocabulary sticks.
  3. True · Once you know what a word means, you can use it in many different sentences.
  4. The enormous elephant sprayed water. · 'Enormous' is a topic word that paints a clearer picture than 'big' or 'stuff'.
  5. Used a new word from the read-aloud in his talk · Sam took a word from the story and used it himself, in his own moment.
  6. False · You can use a word in new sentences and places, as long as the meaning still fits.
  7. Kim, because she used it in her own writing · Using a word in your own writing is proof you learned it, not just heard it.
  8. No, furious is for anger, not pain · A word only fits a new context when its meaning still matches. Furious means angry, not sore.
Worksheet · LightMySky