Context Clues Sentence Diagrams

1. Context Clues Sentence Diagrams RWA 1.3 Initial Instruction AMERCIAS

2. Vocabulary and Concept Development • In order to help readers understand new or complex ideas, writers often use context clues within the text to clarify words. • They define words. • They give examples of words. • They restate words in another way. • They contrast words with their opposites. • We do the same when we are trying to insure our readers understand our ideas and our teachers are clear about our understanding.

3. Let’s Practice • We’re going to choose some vocabulary words from the history textbook. • We’ll read to understand their meanings. • We’ll look for ways the textbook writer used context clues. • We’ll write original sentences which include context clues to show our understanding of the term.

4. Step 1: Write your vocabulary word in the center box. codices Word pg. 461

5. Among the important responsibilities of the priests was preserving the religion, history, and poetry of the people. To record their religion and history, the Aztec made books that historians refer to as codices (KOH•duh• SEEZ). Aztec codices were painted on deerskin, cloth, or paper made from the bark of fig trees. The Aztec produced so many books that they used the equivalent of nearly 500,000 sheets of paper per year. Each Aztec book, or codex, was a single strip, up to 40 feet (12 m) long, that was folded in a zig-zag pattern to make a book. Pages were read from top to bottom and consisted of brightly painted images and pictograms showing events and people in Aztec history. Most of these Aztec books were lost after the Spanish conquered the Aztec and broke up their empire. Those that survive provide historians with much information about Aztec life. Step 2: READ Let’s read page 461 from Chapter 9.2 The Americas to see what context clues the textbook writer gave us to understand what codices are.

6. Among the important responsibilities of the priests was preserving the religion, history, and poetry of the people. To record their religion and history, the Aztec made books that historians refer to as codices (KOH•duh• SEEZ). Aztec codices were painted on deerskin, cloth, or paper made from the bark of fig trees. The Aztec produced so many books that they used the equivalent of nearly 500,000 sheets of paper per year. Each Aztec book, or codex, was a single strip, up to 40 feet (12 m) long, that was folded in a zig-zag pattern to make a book. Pages were read from top to bottom and consisted of brightly painted images and pictograms showing events and people in Aztec history. Most of these Aztec books were lost after the Spanish conquered the Aztec and broke up their empire. Those that survive provide historians with much information about Aztec life. Textbook authors don’t always give all four context clues. What words from this text helped us understand? Let’s take some notes from this into our definition box.

7. codices Word pg. 461

8. quipu Word pg. 464

9. Let’s read page 464 to learn what a quipu is. Building large structures required the Inca to develop a method for doing mathematical calculations. The Inca used a quipu(KEE • poo), a rope with knotted cords of different lengths and colors. Each knot represented a number or item. Quipu was also used to keep records. Like the Aztec, the Inca relied on oral tradition to pass on most of their wisdom and knowledge. The Inca were also skilled engineers. Workers fit stones so tightly together that a knife could not slip between them. Because the Inca used no mortar, the stone blocks could slide up and down without collapsing during earthquakes.

10. Building large structures required the Inca to develop a method for doing mathematical calculations. The Inca used a quipu(KEE • poo), a rope with knotted cords of different lengths and colors. Each knot represented a number or item. Quipu was also used to keep records. Like the Aztec, the Inca relied on oral tradition to pass on most of their wisdom and knowledge. What words helped us learn what aquipuis?

11. quipu

12. conquistador Word pg. 471-472

13. Columbus Returns Columbus set out again in 1493. This time, he came to conquer, bringing soldiers to help him. In the spring of 1494, the Spanish landed on Hispaniola. The Taino who lived on Hispaniola got their first look at the conquistadors (kahn • KEES • tuh • DAWRZ), the soldier-explorers sent to the Americas by Spain. What they saw frightened them. Armor-clad men rode on armor-clad horses. Snarling dogs ran by their sides. In a show of power, the soldiers fired guns that spit out flames and lead balls. Let’s read pages 471-472 to find out what a conquistador is.

14. Columbus Returns Columbus set out again in 1493. This time, he came to conquer, bringing soldiers to help him. In the spring of 1494, the Spanish landed on Hispaniola. The Taino who lived on Hispaniola got their first look at the conquistadors (kahn • KEES • tuh • DAWRZ), the soldier-explorers sent to the Americas by Spain. What they saw frightened them. Armor-clad men rode on armor-clad horses. Snarling dogs ran by their sides. In a show of power, the soldiers fired guns that spit out flames and lead balls. What words help us understand what a conquistador is?

15. conquistador

16. You Try! Step 1: Write your vocab word in the center box. Step 2: Read the selection which has the vocab word.