#2215. Action Words

Reading/Writing, level: Elementary
Posted Mon Apr 16 20:33:31 PDT 2001 by Sarah Gaynier (s1257406@cedarville.edu).
Cedarville University, Cedarville, Oh
Activity Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Concepts Taught: Dolch Site works

Introductory activity:
Read Oh, the Places You'll Go by Dr. Suess
Step 1: Teach 10 "Near" Words
Using a box and a bear, demonstrate to the students what the different words mean and the actions associated with them. For example the word "in", show the students the bear actually inside the box. At the same time, have the flashcard of the word shown to the students, so that they see the action and associate the word with the action. Use repetition.
Step 2: Bean Bag Toss
The students are divided into two teams. One at a time the students get a chance to toss a beanbag onto the shower curtain that has been described above. During the first round, if the student can read the word where his or her beanbag landed, the team receives one point for that student. During the second round, the student must use the word (that the beanbag landed on) in a sentence. If they do it correctly, they receive one point. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Step 3: Using the words in context
Have the students write their own short story using the Dolch words that were learned in the lesson (and even using words that have been learned in the past).
Extension Activities:
If a student does not understand or is having a hard time putting the words in context, read Oh, the Places You'll Go by Dr. Suess with the student or students again and have them demonstrate the words when you come to them to you using the bear and the box from step 1 above. Also, you can show them a flashcard and have them read it to you and then demonstrate the word for you to see.

Evaluation:
1. The teacher will evaluate whether or not the students can read the words in the teaching time and when the class plays the beanbag game. The students need to be able to read at least 8 out of the 10 words learned in class. (If the teacher sees a student is having problems, the teacher will do the extension activity with the student or students at a later time.)
2. The teacher will grade the short stories written by the students for correct spelling and being used in the right context. The students should have at least 8 of the 10 words spelled right and in the right context. 45 minutes to 1 hour