Details and Share
Analogy Creation
Students will create analogies using randomly chosen grade-appropriate words.
Grade Level: 6 - 8th
Subject: English/Language Arts
Length of Time: About 1 - 2 Class Periods
Sponsored School(s)
Common Core Alignment
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
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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