Subjects
- Arts and Humanities
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Grades
Brief Description
A FUNtastic strategy that can be used as a review for any subject.
Objectives
Students will
- review vocabulary (for a test) by using their knowledge to figure out the meaning of two "puzzle clues."
- work cooperatively and think critically as they figure out connections between clues.
Keywords
vocabulary, puzzle, clues, review
Materials Needed
- puzzle-piece clues (see Before the Lesson)
- textbooks or dictionaries
The Lesson
Before the Lesson
Prepare the "puzzles" required for this activity. Each puzzle will contain
only two pieces. Create those matching puzzle pieces by cutting index
cards or paper into two pieces that resemble the pieces of a large puzzle.
Write a different "clue" on each puzzle piece that will lead to the same
answer.
This activity can be used to review vocabulary or to challenge students to think about vocabulary in almost any subject across the curriculum. It's a good practice activity prior to testing too. For example, the activity might be used in…
Social Studies/Geography
Puzzle piece clue # 1: This is a piece of land that has water almost all the way around it.
Puzzle piece clue # 2: This word could be used to describe the land formations of Florida and upper Michigan.
Answer: peninsula
Puzzle piece clue # 1: This word is another name for a chain or cluster of islands.
Puzzle piece clue # 2: The Azores, a chain of Portuguese islands, is one example of this term.
Answer: archipelago
Language Arts/Vocabulary and Dictionary Skills
Puzzle piece clue # 1: Someone who leads a group of people who work together.
Puzzle piece clue # 2: The lead man or woman on a jury.
Answer: foreman
Puzzle piece clue # 1: Operated by hand, instead of automatically.
Puzzle piece clue # 2: A book of instructions that tells you how to do something.
Answer: manual
History/U.S. History Puzzle piece clue # 1: This president is known for his "New Deal."
Puzzle piece clue # 2: After his presidency, which was the longest on record, no other president would be allowed to serve more than two terms (eight years).
Answer: President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Puzzle piece clue # 1: This war is said to have been the first battle of the Cold War.
Puzzle piece clue # 2: No peace treaty has ever been signed to settle this
war.
Answer: The Korean War
Be sure you have one clue for each student in the class. If an odd
number of students are in attendance on the day of the activity, you
(the teacher) could pair up with a student.
The Activity
Distribute the puzzle-piece clues so each student has a clue. Give students
a moment so each can read and think about his/her clue. Then direct
students to find the classmate who has the puzzle piece that connects
to theirs to make a complete (two-piece) puzzle.
When all students have found their "puzzle partners," provide time
for them to share their clues with each other. They must determine what
their clues have in common. Ask them not to share -- give away -- the
"answer" with others in the class. In some cases, students might need
to refer to their textbooks to determine what the clues have in common.
When all students have found their answers, have each pair of partners
read their clues to the class to see if a classmate knows or can figure
out the answer. If the class can't figure out the answer, you might
hold off telling them. Instead, at the end of the activity have students
return to their desks and take out their textbooks (or, for the language
activity, their dictionaries). Reread the clues to the class and give
a reward to the first student who can find the correct answer.
Assessment
You might prepare a quiz based on the vocabulary used in the activity.
This is also a good strategy to use when you need to figure out what skills/vocabulary
that need to be re-taught.
Submitted By
Elizabeth Eaton, Savanna Ridge Elementary School in Fort Pierce, Florida
Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World
10/13/2005
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