English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Form and use compound words
Form and use compound words
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define a compound word as two smaller words joined together.
Identify the two individual words that make up a given compound word.
By the end of of this lesson, students will be able to form a new, valid compound word by combining two smaller words.
Use compound words correctly in a written sentence.
Explain the meaning of a compound word based on the meaning of its two parts.
Distinguish between a real compound word and two words that do not form a compound word.
What do a ladybug 🐞 and a pancake 🥞 have in common? They are both secret 'super words' made of two smaller words!
In this lesson, we will become word detectives! We will learn how to find small words hiding inside bigger words, called compound words. Learning this skill helps us und...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Compound WordOne big word that is made by joining two smaller, separate words together.The word 'basketball' is a compound word made from 'basket' and 'ball'.
Word PartsThe two smaller words that are used to build a compound word.The word parts of 'sunflower' are 'sun' and 'flower'.
CombineTo put two or more things together to make one new thing.We combine the words 'pan' and 'cake' to make the word 'pancake'.
Meaning ClueA hint about what a big word means that you can get from its smaller word parts.A 'doghouse' is a house for a dog. The words 'dog' and 'house' give you a clue to its meaning.
Closed Compound WordA compound word where the two word p...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The Two-Word Rule
A compound word must be made of two smaller words that are real words on their own.
When you split a compound word, both parts must make sense by themselves. For example, 'butterfly' works because 'butter' is a word and 'fly' is a word. 'Teacher' does not work because 'teach' is a word but 'er' is not.
The Meaning Clue Rule
The meaning of a compound word is often connected to the meaning of its two word parts.
Use the small words to guess the meaning of the big word. A 'treehouse' is a house in a tree. A 'raincoat' is a coat you wear in the rain.
The No-Space Rule
The compound words we are learning are written as one single word with no spaces.
When you combine two words...
5 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Read the paragraph: 'Our family went camping. My dad is a great campfire cook. He made pancakes on the stovetop in our camper. At night, we looked at the moonlight on the lake.' Which compound word from the paragraph names something you can see in the sky at night?
A.campfire
B.pancakes
C.stovetop
D.moonlight
Challenging
Use one word from each list to make a compound word that means 'a pain in your head.' List 1: [head, foot, hand] List 2: [sore, ache, hurt]
A.headsore
B.footache
C.headache
D.handhurt
Challenging
Look at this group of compound words: 'seashore,' 'seashell,' 'seagull.' What do all these words have in common?
A.They are all animals.
B.They all have something to do with the sea.
C.They are all things you can find on a boat.
D.They all end with the same two letters.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free