Indiana ELA Standard: 5.RC.12

Rebus Puzzles

Power and Symbols

A skull and crossbones says “danger” faster than any sentence can. So why can’t a symbol say “I forgive you, but I’m still upset”?

Antagonyms: Dust, Clip, and Left

Dust can mean “remove dust” but also “add more dust!”

A System Similar to a Cell

Which parts of a cell serve a similar job to the parts of a cruise ship, human body, computer, or other system?

Plexidemokinesis (Greek and Latin)

What on earth is a Plexidemokinesis? Break apart the Greek and Latin roots, figure out what it should mean, then invent what it describes.

Thermocryptograph (Greek and Latin)

What on earth is a Thermocryptograph? Break apart the Greek and Latin roots, figure out what it should mean, then invent what it describes.

Greekymon Studies – Round 1

What might a creature named “Ursolunascope” be like?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Theta

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Eta

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Zeta

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Epsilon

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Delta

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Gamma

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Beta

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Alpha

Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?

Super Specific Similes – Slimy Broccoli

Start with a basic simile. Now make it more specific. Now even more. Watch how much better writing gets with each round.

Word Pyramids

Start with a one letter word, add another letter, then add another. How tall can you make the pyramid?

Greek and Latin Word Part Paths

How can we go from Biology to Immobile?

Antonym Paths

Does the antonym of an antonym bring us back to the same meaning?

Fancier Figurative Language: Use the Opposite

Let’s start with “As cold as fire.”

Word Ladder: Fire to Warm (4 Steps)

COLD to COOL. BAND to SING. Change one letter at a time — can you find the path?

Writing Technique: Contrast With Synonyms

A specific technique to help students add some spice to their writing. We’ll be contrasting two ideas using synonyms.

Writing Technique: Opposite Adjectives

A specific technique to help students add some spice to their writing. We’ll be using antonyms to describe the same topic!

Ambiguous Sentences

Rather than just demand that students “write clearly,” we’ll explore the hazards of poorly written sentences… and maybe create one of our own!

What’s In My Brain: Cute Baby vs Fast Cheetah

Can students spot similes vs metaphors?

More Specific than “Smart”

When students are told that they’re “smart”, what does this word actually mean to them? (Psst. It isn’t what we intended.)

Building Creative Analogies

We’ll take two seemingly unrelated pieces of content (say volcanoes and the human body) and then build analogies to connect the two ideas. In the end, students can create a skit, comic, or story relating the two concepts.

Synonym Graphs

So, which is happiest: happy, joyful, or ecstatic? Which is most temporary?

Multiple Meaning Matcher – Introduction

Your students will try to match up definitions that belong to the same homophone in this brain-boggling vocab puzzle.

Content Imperatives: Paradox

How can one idea pull in opposite directions, being both true and false or right and wrong at the same time? It’s time to explore Paradoxes!

Content Imperatives: Parallel

Get students thinking broadly by exploring similarities across multiple topics. Combine with Depth and Complexity for bonus points!