Discussing and Questioning New Words
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in texts; discuss word meanings and link new vocabulary to words already known
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1858 concepts · 9 subjects
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Teaching approaches
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When a new word appears, readers can discuss what it may mean and ask questions about its use, parts, or context.
Choose three unfamiliar or interesting words from a short passage and make a question-and-meaning card for each.
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Learning resources
Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
UF Literacy Institute · Practice link — not the full lesson
Instructional Activities
Before you open · source notes
Free UFLI instructional-activity catalogue useful for discussing and questioning new words. An adult picks one activity; the page is a catalogue, not a single vocabulary quiz.
Free literacy activities, no sign-in. An adult picks one activity.
Before you openAsk the learner to ask one question about a new word and say what helped them understand it.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Source, access and review notes
Public UF Literacy Institute page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this page. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult must choose an appropriate lesson or activity for the learner.
UF Literacy Institute. “Instructional Activities.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Ask 'What does ___ mean?' when meeting unfamiliar words during reading
- Use context and pictures to work out what a new word might mean
- Explain a new word by connecting it to a known word (e.g. 'enormous means really really big')
“When your child comes across a word they don't know in a book, do they try to figure out what it means from the other words around it and connect it to words they already know?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Language
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- Vocabulary
- Age range
- Ages 5–12
Standards