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Procedure:
In this lesson, students will find vocabulary
words to create a word search and/or a crossword
puzzle for fellow classmates. Students will use the
vocabulary words from their puzzles in a story. In
addition, students will build grade level
vocabulary through the playing of word games.
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1.Discuss the ways people learn new words.
Students retain understanding of words through
context, rather than memorizing long lists of
unrelated words. Tell your students that it is more
effective to learn one word every day.
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2. Place students in groups or pairs. Instruct
students to go to the
A-Word-A-Day
web site and browse through the archives. Read some
of the entries and the quote to see what is
available. Tell them after several minutes of
browsing, they should begin to gather 30 words they
will select from for creating a crossword puzzle
for their classmates to complete and for inclusion
in a short story they will write.
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3. As students word, remind them to discuss the
words with their partner and decide how a word
might fit into their story. Allow them sufficient
time to select and write down their words and
definitions.
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4. Once they have their words selected, they may
create a crossword puzzle or word search
using puzzle generating software, if available, or if the
software is unavailable, have them use fewer words
on graph paper. Tell them that their finished
crossword puzzle will be copied and given to their
classmates to fill in. Ask each group to provide an
answer key for their own crossword puzzle.
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5. After students have finished creating their
crossword and word search puzzles, have them start
on their stories. Tell them that each student will
write a story, but because they worked together
selecting words, their stories may be similar.
Allow them to brainstorm with their partners as
they work on the first draft of their story. Remind
them to revise, proofread, and prepare their final
story. Click here for an online
interactive story writing activity.
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Additional Activities:
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1. Review the
parts
of speech with your students. Instruct the
students to classify their 30 words according to
each words part of speech. Students can use a
parts of speech
worksheet to organize their words.
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2. Working in pairs, students will visit an
interactive puzzle site and successfully complete a
word puzzle. Note: teachers may wish to visit the
word puzzle sites on their own and printout word
puzzles and reproduce and class.
Interactive Puzzle Sites:
Word Search Puzzles
Crossword Puzzles
Additional Vocabulary Building Games:
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3. The students visit the
Wacky Web
Tales site and follow the online directions to
create a story by plugging in random words
according to the parts of speech. In addition,
students can
create
their own Wacky Web Tale and submit it to the Wacky
Web Tale site. Remember, before beginning this
activity, review the
parts
of speech with your students. For additional
help, use the online
worksheet.
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