Bite of the Kaba Lagoon: word detectives

Word detectives Bite of the Kaba Lagoon

Six manuscript-checked words. Look up each printed page in your own copy; a proof or another edition may have different pagination.

1. immediately - printed page 8: reread its sentence and the picture. What clue helps?
2. precious - printed page 21: reread its sentence and the picture. What clue helps?
3. dungeon - printed page 29: reread its sentence and the picture. What clue helps?
4. captured - printed page 34: reread its sentence and the picture. What clue helps?
5. distracted - printed page 72: reread its sentence and the picture. What clue helps?
6. balance - printed page 76: reread its sentence and the picture. What clue helps?

Choose one word. My first idea and my context clue ...

Use the word in a new sentence ...

Three words; three clues

Use three of the six checked words or choose others from your copy. Record a page, a clue and a meaning checked with an adult or dictionary.

A meaning I revised after checking ...

Teacher notes Suggested meanings

1. immediately: without delay (printed p. 8).
2. precious: very valuable or important (printed p. 21).
3. dungeon: a dark prison, often underground (printed p. 29).
4. captured: caught and held (printed p. 34).
5. distracted: having attention drawn away (printed p. 72).
6. balance: a condition in which different parts work together without one taking over (printed p. 76).

Support and stretch

Read the whole sentence aloud. Model a tentative meaning, check it in context and then consult a dictionary. Accept equivalent meanings. Stretch: choose a different meaning of the same word and explain why it does not fit here.

Teaching links

Suggested England KS2 English vocabulary in context; US L.2.4a and L.2.4e, adapted to reading development. Printed references were checked against the supplied interior, not every edition.