Analogy Creation

Objectives & Outcomes

The students will be able to define randomly chosen words, and create analogies based on an identified relationship using the two words as a starting point.  The students will increase their vocabulary through the development of analogies.

Materials Needed

Internet dictionary or paper dictionary

 Prepare ahead of time:  Create (5 x # of students) index cards each with a grade-appropriate word.  Words may come from current literature being read by the class.  Container to place the index cards/words.

Procedure

Opening to Lesson

• Display two words that seemingly have no connection to each other.
• Ask students the similarities or differences between the two words.
• Ask how they can somehow be either connected, shown as opposites, or another type of analogy.
• Display a brief list of some of the responses

Body of Lesson

Modeling

• Next, ask students think of two other words which can be connect similarly.
• Once students respond with a logical pair of words display all four words shown as an analogy
• Explain to students this is what they will be doing with randomly chosen words
• Show the container to the students

Guided Practice

• Each student will randomly choose two words from the container
• On a separate sheet of paper the students will define each word
• One defined, the students are to reflect on the two words to find a connection between them
• Once a connection is found, the students will use the dictionary or think of two words to use an analogy to the original words
• The students will write the analogy with the four words on a separate sheet of paper
• Once completed, the students will choose two more words from the container and then return the completed index cards
• The students will repeat the same procedure with two more randomly chosen words
• The teacher will decide on the number of analogies the students are required to develop or the time limit in doing so.
• Once all analogies are developed, the teacher will collect the finished work
• Teacher will orally read some of the analogies allowing students to complete the second half of the analogy as a practice for a quiz or test the next day

Independent Practice

• Teacher will create a multiple choice quiz or test using the created analogies, may also be fill in the blank. Assign the same type of work for homework allowing students to develop a set number of analogies.

Closing

Following the quiz/test the teacher will review analogies and the purpose in using them.  Ask students what difficulties they may have had and how they can more easily complete a missing analogy.

Assessment & Evaluation

Teacher-created quiz or test using the analogies created by the students.

Modification & Differentiation

Students may work in pairs.  Students randomly choose their own words from a dictionary.  Use a theme for the randomly chosen words, for example x number of words from science, math, or other subject area.  Use only words from first half of dictionary or all beginning with the same letter.

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