Context Clues with Nonsense Words

Figuring out the meaning of nonsense words using context clues is a great exercise for those at the early childhood level. By figuring out the meaning of nonsense words using context clues, students are using inference-making skills and prior knowledge to target vocabulary development and overall language processing skills. The amount of and detailedness of the context clue has a direct effect on interpreting the meaning of the word. In this packet, there are three levels of scaffolding. Note that at the final level, nonsense words are supposed to be able to be interpreted in any number of different ways as the clues are very open-ended. Throughout the activity, after you read the blurbs, encourage your students to defend their reasoning and substitute the nonsense word with its inferred meaning often.

 

This digital download PDF includes:

-(12) Short passages with strong context clues to infer the meaning of the nonsense word

-(12) Short passages with less clear context clues to infer the meaning of the nonsense word

-(12) Short passages with open-ended context clues to infer the meaning of the nonsense word