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

What Makes a Good Definition?

English · Vocabulary · ages 6-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Words: banana, chair, grape, apple. Which one does not belong with the others?

    • banana
    • chair
    • grape

  2. Which word names the CATEGORY in this definition: 'A tiger is a cat with stripes'?

    • cat
    • stripes
    • tiger

  3. A blanket on the couch on a rainy day can feel cozy.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Maya sorts 'oak,' 'pine,' and 'car' into a group called Trees. What is wrong?

    • Nothing is wrong
    • 'Car' is not a tree, so it does not belong
    • 'Oak' is not a tree

  5. Which sentence is the BEST definition of 'penguin'?

    • A penguin is black and white.
    • A penguin is a bird that cannot fly but swims well.
    • A penguin lives near ice.

  6. Which place is the best real-life example of 'cozy'?

    • A cold, empty garage
    • A soft reading nook with a warm blanket
    • A noisy, crowded parking lot

  7. You sort 'happy,' 'sad,' and 'jump' into a group called Feelings. What should you do?

    • Take 'happy' out, because it is too short
    • Keep all three words in the group
    • Take 'jump' out, because it is an action, not a feeling

  8. Liam defines a whale like this: 'A whale is big and lives in the ocean.' What is missing from his definition?

    • The category, what kind of animal a whale is
    • The size of a whale
    • Where a whale lives
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Answer key

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

What Makes a Good Definition? W1-mt_f_dMmvzxwo-s1

  1. chair · Banana, grape, and apple are all fruit. A chair is furniture, so it does not fit that group.
  2. cat · Cat is the group a tiger belongs to. Stripes is the special detail.
  3. True · Cozy means warm and comfortable, like snuggling under a blanket.
  4. 'Car' is not a tree, so it does not belong · A car is a vehicle, not a tree. It should not be sorted with oak and pine.
  5. A penguin is a bird that cannot fly but swims well. · This definition names the group, bird, and a special detail: it cannot fly but swims well.
  6. A soft reading nook with a warm blanket · Cozy places feel warm, soft, and comfortable, like a reading nook with a blanket.
  7. Take 'jump' out, because it is an action, not a feeling · Jump is something you do, not a feeling. It does not belong with happy and sad.
  8. The category, what kind of animal a whale is · Liam's definition needs the group a whale belongs to, such as 'a whale is a mammal that lives in the ocean.'
Worksheet · LightMySky