Words of the Dream

This vocabulary-building worksheet is designed for students in Grades 8 and 9 to strengthen word knowledge, context-clue analysis, and written expression through Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. Learners examine ten challenging words from the play, infer each word’s meaning based on how it is used in context, and then apply that understanding by writing original definitions and sentences.

Learning Goals

• Vocabulary Development & Usage (Grades 8-9)
  Students build understanding of key academic and literary vocabulary from the play.
• Using Context Clues
  Learners practice determining word meaning from dialogue and narrative context.
• Writing Clear Definitions
  Activities encourage students to explain meanings in their own words.
• Sentence Construction & Application
  Students demonstrate mastery by using each word correctly in an original sentence.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school and early high school ELA standards.
• Active Vocabulary Learning
  Moves beyond memorization to comprehension and meaningful application.
• Supports Literary Discussion
  Strong vocabulary knowledge enhances students’ ability to analyze and discuss the play.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for vocabulary study, homework, review, or formative assessment.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Words of the Dream worksheet helps students deepen their understanding of A Raisin in the Sun by engaging directly with its language. By defining words through context and applying them in original sentences, learners strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence in using literary language.

This worksheet is part of our A Raisin in the Sun collection.