📚 WALT: Use context clues to understand the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary

Success Criteria: I can identify clues in the text to work out what words mean, explain my thinking, and use new vocabulary correctly.

Reading Passage: The Mysterious Glow

Kaia trudged through the dense bush, her boots squelching in the muddy track. The recent Auckland storms had left the Waitākere Ranges sodden and treacherous. As darkness fell, she noticed an ethereal blue-green light flickering between the trees ahead.

"Glow worms!" she whispered, her voice filled with reverence. The tiny creatures had transformed the limestone cave into a natural planetarium. Their bioluminescent bodies created a mesmerising display that seemed almost magical. Kaia stood transfixed, barely daring to breathe as she watched thousands of tiny lights twinkle above her head.

Her younger brother Tom was more pragmatic about the experience. "They're just trying to catch food," he said matter-of-factly. "The light attracts insects." But even Tom couldn't hide his wonder as the luminous threads swayed gently in the cave's cool air, creating patterns that seemed to dance just for them.

As they emerged from the cave, Kaia felt a deep connection to this ancient landscape. The glow worms had been creating their spectacular light show for millions of years, long before humans had ever set foot in Aotearoa New Zealand.

🔍 Part 1: Context Clues Detective Work

Hint: Look at what Tom says and how he explains things.

✏️ Part 2: Vocabulary in Action

The clues that helped me were: _________________________________________________

Scaffold Support:

Sentence starters: "During my visit to _____, I felt _____ because..." or "The _____ sight made me feel..." or "Unlike my friend who was _____, I was more..."

Dyslexia-Friendly Tip: Reread each paragraph slowly and look for clues in the sentences before and after unknown words. Circle or highlight words that give you hints!