You will learn
- Know common school words.
- Use them in talk.
- Understand questions and tasks.
- Use them in writing.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Academic words help us learn.
- Common words: compare, describe, explain, predict, summarise.
- They appear in questions and tasks.
- Use them when talking about work.
Words to know
to do with school and learning
tell how or why
tell about using details
guess what will happen
1. Discover: School words
Ms. Bello says, “Today, we will compare two animals. First, describe each one. Then explain how they are alike. Finally, predict which will win a race.” Tolu reads the instructions and smiles. “I know all those words!”
Think: What do compare, describe, explain and predict mean?
2. Understand: Words for learning
Idea 1: School words
Academic words are used a lot at school: compare, describe, explain, predict, summarise, identify.
Idea 2: What they mean
Describe: tell about with details. Explain: tell how or why. Compare: tell how things are alike. Predict: guess what will happen.
Idea 3: Use them
Use these words when you talk about your work: I can explain how… I predict that…
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Describe
What does describe ask you to do?
- Use details.
Answer: tell about using details
Example 2 (We do it together): Explain
What does explain mean?
- How or why.
Answer: tell how or why
Example 3 (You try): Predict
What does predict mean?
Show the steps and answer
- Guess ahead.
Answer: guess what will happen
Did you know?
Knowing school words helps learners understand tests and instructions.
Why this matters
Academic words help you understand tasks and talk about your learning.
4. Explore: Word match
Match school words to meanings.
- Read the words.
- Read the meanings.
- Match them.
- Use each in a sentence.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You know school words.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Describe means ___.
- Explain means ___.
- Compare means ___.
- Predict means ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What does explain mean?
tell how or why
Question 2. What does compare mean?
tell how alike
Question 3. What does predict mean?
guess what will happen
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- School words are ___ words.
- To tell about with details is to ___.
- To tell how or why is to ___.
- To tell how things are alike is to ___.
- To guess what will happen is to ___.
Level 2: Grow
- Describe a dog.
- Explain why we sleep.
- Predict: dark clouds.
Level 3: Stretch
- Why learn these words?
- Where do you see them?
- Use one in a sentence.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Use three school words when you talk about homework.
Show a sample answer
describe, explain, compare
Another one. Write four sentences using four school words.
Show a sample answer
Four sentences
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Learn the word.
Fix: Check each.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can know common school words.
- I can use them in talk.
- I can understand questions.
- I can use them in writing.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Academic words help learning.
- Describe, explain, compare, predict.
- They appear in tasks.
- Use them in talk and writing.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Common and proper nouns. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What does describe mean? [1 mark]
- What does explain mean? [1 mark]
- What does predict mean? [1 mark]
- Name two other school words. [2 marks]
- Explain why academic words are important. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- tell about using details [1]
- tell how or why [1]
- guess what will happen [1]
- compare [1]; summarise/identify [1]
- appear in tasks [1]; help understand instructions [1]; help talk about learning [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- School words are ___ words.
- To tell with details is to ___.
- To tell how or why is to ___.
- To tell how alike is to ___.
- To guess what will happen is to ___.
- True or false: explain means draw.
- True or false: predict means guess.
- Describe a cat.
- Predict the weather.
- Use explain in a sentence.
Homework
Use three school words in sentences about your learning.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. School words are ___ words. | academic | 1 |
| 2. To tell with details is to ___. | describe | 1 |
| 3. To tell how or why is to ___. | explain | 1 |
| 4. To tell how alike is to ___. | compare | 1 |
| 5. To guess what will happen is to ___. | predict | 1 |
| 6. True or false: explain means draw. | false | 1 |
| 7. True or false: predict means guess. | true | 1 |
| 8. Describe a cat. | It is small and furry. | 1 |
| 9. Predict the weather. | rain | 1 |
| 10. Use explain in a sentence. | I can explain my answer. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 academic; 2 describe; 3 explain; 4 compare; 5 predict. Level 2: 1 It is brown and furry.; 2 to rest and grow; 3 rain. Level 3: 1 understand tasks; 2 questions; 3 I can explain my answer..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Know common school words | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Use them in talk | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Understand questions and tasks | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Use them in writing | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Not knowing the task word. Learn the word.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use word cards with meanings.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns words used in school tasks. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Use school words in talk.
- Ask: Can you explain?
- Praise using them.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: know common school words; use them in talk; understand questions and tasks; use them in writing.
Prerequisite knowledge. Dictionary introduction.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Review vocabulary.
Explanation (10 min). Teach school words.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise.
Independent activity (10 min). Check.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What does the word ask me to do?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use word cards. Extension. Learn more academic words.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Not knowing the task word. Learn the word.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use word cards with meanings. Enrichment. Learn more school words. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Language. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core L.2.6 (use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts); Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (vocabulary). These sources informed the lesson.