Curse of the Akoma Stone: word detectives
English-language edition | October 2026 | bernard.ink
Six words to investigate
Read the word in your own copy before looking at the teacher meanings. These six words were checked in the July 2025 Scholastic edition. Use printed page numbers; editions may differ.
- ceremony - printed p. 5
- forbidden - printed p. 32
- pedestal - printed p. 44
- shattered - printed p. 51
- barrier - printed p. 73
- regardless - printed p. 83
Use a context clue
Choose one word. Read its sentence and the sentences around it. What action, picture or nearby word helps? Say your idea, then check a dictionary with an adult.
My word and page ...
My first idea for its meaning ...
A context clue that helped ...
The meaning I checked ...
My word detective sheet
Investigate three more words from this book, or revisit three from the list. Record a context clue and check that the meaning fits the story.
| Word | Page | Context clue | Meaning checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chosen word 1 | |||
| Chosen word 2 | |||
| Chosen word 3 |
Use one word in a new sentence. Make the meaning clear.
Teacher notes: vocabulary
Suggested meanings
- ceremony (p. 5): an organised event marking a special occasion. Clue: Principal Wari announces it will happen after dinner; later students perform.
- forbidden (p. 32): not allowed. Clue: Principal Wari stops the Games and sends students away after seeing the spell.
- pedestal (p. 44): a raised stand that supports an object. Clue: Principal Wari removes the calabash from it and places the calabash on the floor.
- shattered (p. 51): broke into many pieces. Clue: Cracking sounds come just before the mirrors break.
- barrier (p. 73): something that blocks or protects. Clue: Flames surround Kwame when a student tries to reach him.
- regardless (p. 83): no matter what; without being changed by something. Clue: Principal Wari says the rule about not touching the Boni still applies whatever it says.
Support and stretch
Support: explore one word together, reading the surrounding sentence aloud; accept a spoken explanation. Stretch: compare two dictionary meanings and justify the one that fits. These are English story words, not translations of Ghanaian cultural terms.
Teaching links
Suggested links: England Year 2 / lower KS2 vocabulary discussion; US Grade 2 L.2.4a (context clues) and L.2.4e (reference sources). Adapt to reading development; this sheet does not cover the whole standard.