Dictionary Detectives Challenge 🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♂️

• English
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1,2

Dictionary Detectives Challenge 

Learning Objectives

You will learn how to ...........

use a dictionary efficiently.

identify parts of speech, multiple meanings, collocations, and word families.

work collaboratively under time pressure.

How to use a dictionary.

In your dictionary, find an entry for "bright" (adjective)

• Giving a lot of light.
• Intelligent.
• Example: Sarah is a bright student.

What is the word in a dictionary entry called?

Headword

What does an "adjective" tell us?

It describes the noun - The bright light / The bright child

Why are there two meanings?

Many words in the English language have several meanings.

Which meaning is used in the example sentence?

Intelligent

Click > to reveal two different meanings and the example. 

Ask:

What is the word called? (headword)

What does "adjective" tell us?

Why are there two meanings?

Explain:

Headword

Pronunciation (if shown)

Part of speech

Definition

Example sentence

Dictionary Detectives Challenge 

How to play!

Get in to groups of three or four.

Sit close together

Think of a name for your group and ONE member of the group signs into this LessonUp using the group's name.

1.Students need a dictionary each.

2.ONE iPad per group - Only for adding answers to the Dictionary Detectives Challenge questions and NOT to be used as an online dictionary tool. 

3.Pen and paper per group.

Round 1: Speed Dictionary Race 

How it works: Each team has a dictionary. The team who displays the correct answer the most quickly on the wordweb gets a point. 

Keep a note of the scores per group for each round. 

Challenge One: Scoring First correct team = 3 points/Second = 2 points/Third = 1 point

A phrasal verb with "take"

Challenge Two: Scoring First correct team = 3 points/Second = 2 points/Third = 1 point

A word with at least three meanings.

Challenge Three: Scoring 1st correct team = 3 points/2nd = 2 points/3rd = 1 point

An adjective ending in "-ive"

Challenge Five: Scoring 1st correct team = 3 points/2nd = 2 points/3rd = 1 point

A synonym for "happy"

Challenge Four: Scoring 1st correct team = 3 points/2nd = 2 points/3rd = 1 point

A word that is both a noun and a verb

wordwall.net

Round 3: Dictionary Detectives 

Round 4: *Lexicographer Challenge 

*A lexicographer is someone who writes dictionaries.

Each team is given a mystery word. 

Teams create a complete dictionary entry:

• pronunciation
• part of speech
• definition
• synonym
• collocation
• example sentence

Round 4: Lexicographer Challenge (15 mins)

Give each team a mystery word.

Examples:

challenge

achieve

curious

reliable

adventure

solution

Teams create a complete dictionary entry:

✓ pronunciation

✓ part of speech

✓ definition

✓ synonym

✓ collocation

✓ example sentence

Bonus

Include a second meaning for 2 extra points.

wordwall.net

wordwall.net

Remember................

Bring a dictionary (English-NL) to the English Test in the Test Week. 

You will not be allowed to borrow a classmate's dictionary during the test! - School will not provide you with a dictionary, so bring your own. 

Team Scoreboard

Team	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5
Team A
Team B
Team C
Team D
Team E
Team F

Extension Challenge ★

Work in pairs.

Create five difficult dictionary questions for another team. Your questions must include:

✓ a phrasal verb

✓ a synonym

✓ a word family

✓ a collocation

✓ a word with more than one meaning

Example

Find a word that can be both a noun and a verb. Write two example sentences showing both uses.

This is a more complex explanation (B2 level) maybe ask the students to listen again at the end of the lesson. Or use as differentiation task for students who need a challenge.