Degree of Certainty

Degree of Certainty
Answer Key

Teacher Note Vocabulary Ladders

For detailed instructions Word Definition

on how to implement the
components of this lesson, wonder to be unsure but have an idea
see pages 15–19. suspect to guess or predict
believe to trust
know to learn or realize
Objective
understand to figure out why something is
Students will analyze words
related to degree of certainty, confirm to check and find evidence
from not certain to certain.
Ordering Words
Check that students can explain why the words are ordered
Materials the way they are.

• Vocabulary Ladders
template (page 142) Sentence Clues
• Activity Cards 1. I’ve searched everywhere, and I still (wonder) where my
(page 95) keys are.

• Ordering Words 2. I (suspect/believe) it was my new puppy who took my pair

(page 96) of socks, but I’m not certain.
• Sentence Clues
(page 97) 3. A detective uses evidence to (confirm) the identity of the
criminal.
• Sentence Stems
(page 98) 4. Javier and Rita (know/understand) how to solve word
problems in math.
• Write About It!
(page 99)
Sentence Stems
Check that student responses reflect the meaning of the
Additional Words underlined word in each sentence frame.

Introduce students to
additional words such as infer, Write About It!
deduce, and realize as you Check that responses include the new vocabulary terms used
work through the lesson. in the correct way.

94 #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 Degree of Certainty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Activity Cards

Directions: Cut apart and match the words and definitions below.
Then, glue them onto the Vocabulary Ladders activity sheet in order, from
not certain to certain.

to check and find

believe evidence

confirm to learn or realize

to figure out why

know something is

to be unsure but have

suspect an idea

understand to guess or predict

wonder to trust

© Shell Education #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 95

 Degree of Certainty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Ordering Words
Directions: Write the words from the Word Bank in the order you choose,
from not certain to certain, on the ladder. Then, explain an important
difference between two of the words.

Word Bank
believe confirm know
suspect understand wonder

Comparing Words

Choose two words.

Word 1: _________________

Word 2: _________________

One difference between these

words is:

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

96 #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 Degree of Certainty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Sentence Clues
Directions: Choose the best word from the Word Bank to complete
each sentence.

Word Bank
believe confirm know
suspect understand wonder

1. I’ve searched everywhere, and I still ____________________

where my keys are.

2. I ________________________ it was my new puppy who

took my pair of socks, but I'm not certain.

3. A detective uses evidence to ________________________

the identity of the criminal.

4. Javier and Rita ______________________ how to

solve word problems in math.

© Shell Education #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 97

 Degree of Certainty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Sentence Stems
Directions: Complete each statement.

1. A few things I know a lot about are __________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

2. My parents confirmed to the teacher that I ____________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

3. I suspect my grades this year will be ________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

4. One thing I don’t understand well is _________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

5. A few people believe that my best qualities are ________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

6. I often wonder about _____________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

98 #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 Degree of Certainty

Name: ___________________________________________  Date: __________________

Write About It!

Directions: Read the prompt. Then, write a response. Underline the new
vocabulary you use in your response.

Word Bank
believe confirm know
suspect understand wonder

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

© Shell Education #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 99