Word Explorers Lesson Plan
TEKS K.3.C Kindergarten ELAR • 50-60 Mins
Word Explorers Lesson Plan
Unit Domain
Vocabulary & Concepts
Lesson Target
Identify, act out, and sort words for actions, directions, positions, sequences, categories, and locations.
Essential Question
How do special words help us tell what we do, where we go, and what we see?
Materials Needed
• Word Safari Slides
• Word Scout Activity Pages
• Crayons, glue sticks, pencils
TEKS K.3.C Master Vocabulary Matrix
| Category | Key Focus Words | Kindergarten Visual / TPR Action |
|---|
| 1. Actions | run, jump, stomp, wiggle, sleep, fly | Students physically perform each action in place on cue. |
| 2. Directions | up, down, left, right, forward | Point finger or step toward the teacher's directional arrows. |
| 3. Positions | in, on, under, behind, beside | Teddy bear or hand placed relative to a classroom desk or box. |
| 4. Sequences | first, next, then, last | Four fingers held up in order; washing hands routine order. |
| 5. Categories | Colors, Shapes (circle, triangle), Textures (soft, rough, hard) | Touch sample items (cotton ball, sandpaper, wooden block). |
| 6. Locations | school, park, home, library, playground | Point to photo badges depicting each familiar setting. |
1 Warm-Up: The Safari Explorer Call (8-10 Minutes)
Engage & Move
Say: "Explorers, grab your pretend binoculars! When we explore the wild world, we need special power words to tell what our bodies do, where animals hide, and what treasures look like."
Quick Movement Game: Safari Simon
Simon says: "Jump up!" (Action + Direction). Simon says: "Put hands on your knees!" (Position). "First smile, next stomp!" (Sequence).
Focus Question & Cue
Point to the Safari Word Wall badge. Introduce the 6 Explorer Badges that students will earn today during the slide expedition.
Kindergarten ELAR • TEKS K.3.C • Word Explorer Safari Page 1 of 2
Instructional Sequence & Student Support
TEKS K.3.C Implementation Guide
2 Direct Teaching & Interactive Slides (15-20 Minutes)
Word Safari Slides Deck
Slides 2-4 (Actions, Directions & Positions): Use "I Do, We Do". Display slide images. Have students perform the action word, point their finger in the direction word, and use both hands to model positions (e.g., fist inside palm for "in", hand over fist for "on").
Slide 5 (Sequence Words): Walk through the daily morning routine or handwashing song. Model connecting words: "First turn on water, next get soap, then scrub, last dry hands."
Slides 6-8 (Categories & Locations): Contrast textures (feather vs. rock). Show shape items in the room. Pair each location picture with what we do there (e.g., "We read at the library, we play at the park").
3 Guided & Partner Practice: Word Scout Sheet (15-20 Minutes)
Student Activity Page
Distribute the 2-page Word Scout Activity Page. Model the first item in each section on the document camera before independent or paired work.
Page 1: Move & Place Missions
- Match monkey action words to pictures.
- Circle directional arrows (up, down, left).
- Number sequence steps (1, 2, 3) for planting a seed.
Page 2: Category & Place Trails
- Color shapes with exact matching hues.
- Texture sensory circle (rough tree bark vs. soft bunny).
- Identify school & park community locations.
Multisensory Scaffolding & Differentiation
Support (Emerging / ELL)
Pair verbal words with Total Physical Response (TPR) gestures. Provide bilingual picture flashcards and sentence stems: "The ball is ___."
Sensory Tactile Station
Provide real tactile items in baskets: sandpaper (rough), silk scarf (smooth/soft), block (hard) to verify texture vocabulary through touch.
Extension (Ready for More)
Encourage students to build a compound sentence using 3 word groups: "First, I run (action) inside (position) school (location)!"
4 Formative Assessment & Exit Check (5 Minutes)
The Word Scout Hand-Stamp Checklist: As students line up, show 1 random flashcard or prompt: "Show me 'jump'!", "Point 'up'!", or "Is this rock soft or hard?". A correct response earns an explorer high-five or sticker.
Kindergarten ELAR • TEKS K.3.C • Word Explorer Safari Page 2 of 2
Word Safari Slides
TEKS K.3.C Explorer Mission
Kindergarten ELAR
🧭 🎒 🦁
Word Explorer Safari
Discover words for Actions, Directions, Positions, Order, Categories & Locations!
Get your binoculars ready! Let's Explore Words Together!
🏃
Word Group 1
Action Words
Words that tell what we DO!
🏃♂️
RUN
Moving feet fast!
🦘
JUMP
Up off the ground!
🐛
WIGGLE
Shake side to side!
😴
SLEEP
Resting our eyes!
🦅
FLY
Soaring in the sky!
💃
DANCE
Grooving to music!
Stand up and show me: WIGGLE like a caterpillar! Movement Check!
🧭
Word Group 2
Direction Words
Words that tell WHICH WAY we move!
UP
Toward the sky ☁️
DOWN
Toward the floor 👟
LEFT
Turn this way 👈
RIGHT
Turn that way 👉
Point your finger UP... now point your finger DOWN! Simon Says!
📦
Word Group 3
Position Words
Words that tell WHERE something is!
📥
IN
Inside the box
"The toy is IN the bin."
📦
ON
On top of the box
"The cat is ON the bed."
🕳️
UNDER
Below the box
"Shoes are UNDER the bed."
🐾
BESIDE
Next to the box
"Sit BESIDE your friend."
Put one hand ON your head... now UNDER your chin! Hands Ready!
⏳
Word Group 4
Sequence Words
Words that tell the ORDER of things!
1
FIRST
🌱
Plant a seed
2
NEXT
💧
Water it daily
3
THEN
🌿
Green leaves sprout
4
LAST
🌻
The flower blooms!
Word Scout Activity Page
🧭
Word Scout Activity Page
Part 1 • Actions, Directions, Positions & Sequences
Name:
Date:
1 Action Safari: Match the Action Word
Draw a line from the word to the picture!
🏃
RUN
🦘
JUMP
😴
SLEEP
2 Directions & Positions: Circle the Correct Picture
Look closely and circle!
A. Circle the arrow pointing UP:
B. Circle the cat that is UNDER the table:
🐱
ON table
🕳️🐈
UNDER table
C. Circle the hand pointing to the RIGHT:
👈
👉
D. Circle the puppy that is IN the box:
🐕 📦
BESIDE box
📦🐶
IN box
3 Sequence Order: Planting a Flower (1, 2, 3)
Write 1 for First, 2 for Next, 3 for Last
🌻
Big Flower Blooms
🌱
Plant the Tiny Seed
🌿
Green Leaves Grow
Kindergarten ELAR • TEKS K.3.C • Word Scout Activity Turn page for Part 2 ➔
🎨
Word Scout Activity Page
Part 2 • Categories (Colors, Shapes, Textures) & Locations
Color & Draw Explorer
4 Categories: Color & Shape Clues
Follow the crayon coloring rules!
CIRCLE
Color RED 🖍️
SQUARE
Color BLUE 🖍️
TRIANGLE
Color YELLOW 🖍️
⭐
STAR
Color GREEN 🖍️
5 Categories: Texture Detective (Touch & Feel)
Circle the picture that matches!
A. Which one feels SOFT?
🧸
Teddy Bear
🪨
Hard Rock
B. Which one feels ROUGH?
🪵
Tree Bark
🪞
Smooth Mirror
6 Location Expedition: Match & Draw
Identify places and draw!
Check the locations you know:
🏫 SCHOOL (where we learn)
🌳 PARK (where we play)
📚 LIBRARY (where we read)
🏡 HOME (where we live)
Draw your favorite location:
