Included in this download, you will find my Spring Dictionary Dig activities as well as additional activities that can be used for morning work and/or literacy centers.

Please note that the Dictionary Dig activities are appropriate for grade levels 2 – 5, but the extension menu items are designed to meet the standards of 2nd and 3rd grade students.

I have been using these activities in my classroom for many years now. I originally developed them as monthly vocabulary centers for my students, but the Dictionary Dig is also great as a stand out activity on its own for morning word work. Words with affixes have intentionally been included.

To differentiate and/or cut down on copying costs, three different options are included for the Dictionary Dig as well as a folder cover page to help organize student work. The first option is a two page form that requires students to dig through the dictionary to locate the page the word is found on, guide words, part(s) of speech, sound spelling, number of meanings, affixes, synonyms, antonyms, word family members, and definition. There is also a space provided for students to write a sentence using the word and draw a picture of it.

The second option is a single page form. It requires students to locate all of the above information with the exception of word family members. In addition, students are asked to draw their illustrations on the back of the paper or on a separate sheet of paper.

The third option is the same as the second but does not provide an opportunity for students to illustrate the word.

A list of spring words is provided with this download. If, however, you would rather have your students generate their own list, a graphic organizer has been included to accommodate this choice. Once their lists have been generated, students can select the words they want to work with and write them on the blank template provided.

A graphic organizer for students to sort the words into parts of speech (noun, verb, or both) categories is also included.

In addition, an extension menu is provided, listing nine different choices for students. All repoducibles are provided for each one of the choices. (If copying costs are an issue, some of these activities can be done on lined notebook paper or in a journal. Another option is to place a master copy in a center, and have students complete their work on lined paper or in a journal by referring to that copy.)

Choices on the menu are:

ABC Order – Students write the words in alphabetical order.
Dictionary Work – Dictionary Dig form(s) (See explanation above.)
Picture Dictionary – Students create their own mini picture dictionary of spring words.
Number Code – Students use a number code to determine the spring word.
Word Unscramble – Students unscramble the words from the word list.
Write a story or an acrostic poem – Templates are provided for both options.
Word Search – Students create their own word search and ask a friend to solve it.
Syllabication – Students break the words apart into syllables and write the number of syllables each word has.
Rhyming – Students generate a list of words that rhyme with the list words.

Please refer to the preview for an example of each page.