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Common Core ELA5th GradeLanguage

L.5.6: Use Academic and Content Words

Also written as CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.6 · Cluster: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use.

Make a Vocabulary WorksheetAll 43 5th Grade ELA Standards

The Official Wording

Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal contrast, addition, and other logical relationships (e.g., however, although, nevertheless, similarly, moreover, in addition).

Common Core State Standards, Grade 5, Language · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What L.5.6 Means in Plain English

Fifth graders learn the words their subjects run on, like habitat and adaptation in science or analyze and evidence in every class, and use them correctly in talk and writing, along with linking words such as however, although, similarly and moreover.

Fourth graders (L.4.6) used words for precise actions and feelings, like stammered, and the key words of a topic. Fifth grade adds the words that signal contrast, addition and other logical links between ideas. Sixth grade (L.6.6) asks students to gather vocabulary on their own when a word matters.

L.5.6 I Can Statements

  • I can use my unit’s science and social studies words correctly.
  • I can use however and although to show a contrast.
  • I can use moreover, in addition and similarly to connect ideas.

L.5.6 Worked Example

The same two facts about foxes, before and after the unit’s words and the linking words go in.

Prompt

Revise this science answer so it uses the unit words habitat and adaptation, and linking words that show how the two foxes compare.

Not YetThe fennec fox lives in a hot place and has big ears that help it. The arctic fox lives in a cold place and has small ears and also thick fur.Everyday words (a hot place, help it) stand in for the unit’s words, and “and also” is the only link, so a reader can’t tell the answer is a contrast.
Meets the StandardThe fennec fox’s habitat is the hot Sahara Desert, and its huge ears are an adaptation that lets body heat escape. The arctic fox, however, lives in a frozen habitat, so its adaptations work the other way: small ears and thick fur hold heat in. Moreover, its white winter coat helps it hide in the snow.Habitat and adaptation are used the way the unit defined them, however marks the contrast between the two foxes, and moreover adds a third point. It reads like an answer from someone who studied the unit.
Moves to Use
Swap everyday words for the unit’s words: a hot place becomes a desert habitat.Use however or although to signal a contrast.Use moreover or in addition to add a point, and similarly to show a match.Check that each word is used the way the unit defined it.

Common Mistakes with L.5.6

Words learned for the quiz, then dropped

Habitat on Friday’s quiz, “where it lives” in Monday’s lab report

Try this: Post the unit’s words on the wall and expect at least three of them in every written answer and discussion during the unit.

Linking words that point the wrong way

“The desert is hot. Moreover, the Arctic is cold.”

Try this: Have students name the link first, contrast or addition, then choose from that column of a linking-word chart.

A sentence that uses the word but shows nothing

“Adaptation is a really interesting word.”

Try this: Require sentences that show the meaning, so a reader who didn’t know the word could work it out from the sentence alone.

Where L.5.6 Fits

Comes BeforeL.4.6Learn words for precise actions and feelings, plus the key words of a topic.
AlongsideRI.5.4Work out school and subject words in a text on a grade 5 topic.W.5.2Write informative pieces with precise, topic-specific vocabulary.
Comes NextL.6.6Use grade 6 academic and subject words, and gather vocabulary independently.

Practice L.5.6

Vocabulary Worksheet GeneratorFree ToolWord, definition, sentence and picture practice from the unit’s own list, such as habitat and adaptation, plus linking words like however and moreover.Unit word listLinking wordsGrade 5
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Quick Check

  1. Which two unit words does the strong answer use?
  2. Which linking word in the strong answer signals the contrast, and which adds a point?
  3. Pick the linking word that fits and say why: “Saturn has bright rings. ___, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune have rings, though fainter ones.” (However, Similarly, Although)

L.5.6: Other Names

L.5.6CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.6

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Official wording from the Common Core State Standards PDFs at corestandards.org, last checked October 14, 2026. The explanation, I can statements, example, mistakes and practice on this page are EMStudio’s own, written beside the official wording. They are not part of the standard.