Year 3 English: Index, glossary and dictionary
Part of the Year 3 English reading non-fiction chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Index, glossary and dictionary
An index is at the back of a book. It lists the topics in alphabetical order, with the page numbers where each topic is found.
A glossary is a list of key words in a book, with their meanings. It is also in alphabetical order.
A dictionary is also in alphabetical order. To find a word quickly, look at its first two or three letters. Frog starts with fr, so you look for fr near the start of the dictionary.
Read the extract in the box. Then answer the questions in exercise 9D.
Habitats (non-fiction extract with an index and a glossary)
Page 2
A habitat is the place where an animal or plant lives. Woodland and hedges are habitats. Many animals find food and shelter in the same habitat.
Page 3
A hedgehog sleeps in a pile of leaves in a hedge or a wood. Ponds are home to frogs and newts, and many plants grow in the water.
Index
- frog, page 3
- hedgehog, page 3
- newt, page 3
- pond, page 3
- woodland, page 2
Glossary
- habitat: the place where an animal or plant lives
- newt: a small animal that lives in ponds
- shelter: a place that protects an animal from weather and danger
Key ideas
- An index lists topics in alphabetical order, with the page numbers where they are found.
- A glossary lists key words in alphabetical order, with their meanings.
- In a dictionary, look at the first two or three letters to find a word quickly.
- Words that start with the same letter are put in order by their second letter, then their third.
- A dictionary can also help you check the spelling of a word you have read.
Method. Look at the first letter of each word, then the next letters.
- Look at the first letter of each word. A dictionary puts words in alphabetical order, from A to Z.lemon: l / lamp: l
- If two words start with the same letter, look at the next letters. Compare the second and third letters, one pair at a time.lam / lem
- Write the answer. lamp, lemon
Check. The order is lamp, lemon, because a comes before e. ✓
Method. Find pond in the index and read the page number after it.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: pond.pond
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:pond, page 3
- Write the answer. page 3
Check. The index says pond, page 3. ✓
Method. Think about how a reader finds one word in a long list.
- Think about finding a word. If the words are in order, you can find one quickly.A to Z
- Think about the reader. A reader can move through the list from A to Z, without reading every word.move from A to Z
- Write the answer. So that a reader can find a word quickly.
Check. Alphabetical order makes any word quick to find. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: so the reader does not have to read every word to find the one they need.
Watch out
Watch out: the index gives page numbers, not the meanings. Use the glossary for a meaning, and the index for a page.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to put five words from the house into alphabetical order, using only the first two letters. Then ask them to check the order in a real dictionary.
Exercise 9D Practice: index, glossary and dictionary
Method. Find frog in the index.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: frog.frog
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:frog, page 3
- Write the answer. page 3
Check. The index says frog, page 3. ✓
Method. Find woodland in the index.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: woodland.woodland
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:woodland, page 2
- Write the answer. page 2
Check. The index says woodland, page 2. ✓
Method. Find habitat in the glossary.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: habitat.habitat
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:habitat: the place where an animal or plant lives
- Write the answer. the place where an animal or plant lives
Check. The glossary gives the meaning of habitat. ✓
Method. Compare the first letters of the two words.
- Compare the first letters. In the alphabet, n comes before s.n and s
- Check the glossary. The glossary lists newt before shelter.newt before shelter
- Write the answer. newt
Check. N comes before S, so newt comes first. ✓
Method. Find the sentence about the hedgehog.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: hedgehog.hedgehog
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:in a hedge or a wood
- Write the answer. a hedge or a wood
Check. The text says a hedge or a wood. ✓
Method. Find the sentence about ponds.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: ponds.ponds
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:Ponds are home to frogs and newts
- Write the answer. frogs and newts
Check. Frogs and newts are named as pond animals. ✓
Method. Find frog in the index and read the number after it.
- Find the key words in the question. These words tell us where to look: frog.frog
- Find the words in the text that answer it. The text says:frog, page 3
- Write the answer. the page on which frogs are mentioned
Check. The number is the page where frog is found. ✓
Method. Think about how an index is arranged.
- Look at the index. Topics are in alphabetical order, with a page number after each one.alphabetical order
- Give the reason. You can find the animal and go straight to its page.go straight to its page
- Write the answer. Accept any reason, for example: it lists the topics in alphabetical order with page numbers, so you can find the right page quickly.
Check. The index saves time. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: it tells you the page without reading the whole book.
Method. Look at the first letter of each word, then the next letters.
- Look at the first letter of each word. A dictionary puts words in alphabetical order, from A to Z.sheep: s / shadow: s / shell: s
- If two words start with the same letter, look at the next letters. Compare the second and third letters, one pair at a time.sha / she / she
- Write the answer. shadow, sheep, shell
Check. Shadow comes first because sha comes before she; sheep comes before shell because e comes before l. ✓
Method. Look at the start of the word.
- Look at the start of frog. Dictionaries are in alphabetical order, so the first letters matter most.f, r
- Find the first two letters. These two letters show where to look in the dictionary.fr
- Write the answer. fr (also accept: fro)
Check. Frog starts with fr. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: fro, the first three letters.
Method. Find the word in the glossary, then say it in your own words.
- Find the word. The glossary gives the meaning of habitat.habitat: the place where an animal or plant lives
- Say it in your own words. You can change the words, but keep the same meaning.a home or place where an animal or plant lives
- Write the answer. Accept any answer close to the glossary, for example: the home or place where an animal or plant lives.
Check. Your words should keep the same meaning. ✓