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Winter Wonderland Wordplay

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Lesson Plan

Lexicon of Frost and Festivity

Students will explore etymology of winter-themed words, identify idioms related to holidays, and recognize literary devices (hyperbole, metaphor, simile) in festive texts to enhance vocabulary and language analysis skills.

Understanding the origins and nuances of words, especially within a fun, festive context, helps students develop a richer vocabulary and a deeper appreciation for the English language, improving both reading comprehension and creative writing.

Audience

Middle School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive exploration and guided practice

Materials

Holiday Homonyms and Hyperbole Slide Deck, and Figurative Language Fun Worksheet

Prep

Review Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-up: Winter Word Brainstorm

5 minutes

  • Greet students and ask them to brainstorm as many winter and holiday-related words as they can think of in one minute.
    - Write their words on the board.
    - Briefly discuss a few interesting words and their general meanings.

Step 2

Introduction to Etymology & Idioms

10 minutes

  • Use the Holiday Homonyms and Hyperbole Slide Deck (Slides 1-3) to introduce the concepts of etymology (word origins) and idioms (phrases with non-literal meanings).
    - Provide examples relevant to winter or holidays, such as 'blizzard' (etymology) or 'deck the halls' (idiom).
    - Engage students with questions about how knowing word origins can help them understand new words.

Step 3

Exploring Literary Devices

15 minutes

  • Continue with the Holiday Homonyms and Hyperbole Slide Deck (Slides 4-7) to explain hyperbole, metaphor, and simile.
    - Provide clear definitions and festive examples for each.
    - Lead a brief class discussion, asking students to share any holiday song lyrics or stories that might contain these devices.

Step 4

Figurative Language Fun Worksheet Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Figurative Language Fun Worksheet.
    - Instruct students to complete the worksheet independently or with a partner, identifying literary devices and matching idioms to their meanings.
    - Circulate to provide support and answer questions.

Step 5

Wrap-up & Share Out

5 minutes

  • Review answers from the Figurative Language Fun Worksheet as a class.
    - Ask students to share one new word or concept they learned today.
    - Reiterate the importance of paying attention to language nuances in everyday communication and reading.
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Winter Wonderland Wordplay!

Get ready to unwrap the magic of words this holiday season!

Welcome students and introduce the exciting journey into wordplay. Ask them what 'wordplay' means to them.

What's in a Word? Etymology!

  • Etymology: The origin and history of words.
  • Discover where our winter and holiday words come from!
  • Example: 'Carol' comes from Old French, meaning a circle dance.

Explain etymology as the 'story' of a word. Provide a simple example, perhaps a common word like 'December' (from Latin 'decem' meaning ten).

Idioms: More Than Meets the Eye!

  • Idiom: A phrase where the meaning isn't obvious from its individual words.
  • They add color and character to our language!
  • Example: 'White elephant gift' doesn't mean a gift that is literally a white elephant!

Introduce idioms as phrases that don't mean exactly what they say. Ask students if they know any common idioms, festive or otherwise.

Literary Devices: Hyperbole

  • Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
  • 'I ate so much turkey, I could burst!'
  • 'That Christmas light display was brighter than a thousand suns!'

Define hyperbole clearly, emphasizing exaggeration for effect. Ask students to think of funny exaggerations they might hear during the holidays.

Literary Devices: Simile

  • Simile: Comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.
  • 'The snow fell like a soft blanket.'
  • 'Her excitement for presents was as bright as the star on the tree.'

Explain simile, focusing on 'like' or 'as'. Ask students to complete a festive simile.

Literary Devices: Metaphor

  • Metaphor: Directly comparing two unlike things without 'like' or 'as'.
  • 'The ice rink was a glassy mirror.'
  • 'Our living room was a winter wonderland.'

Explain metaphor, highlighting direct comparison. Contrast it with simile by noting the absence of 'like' or 'as'. Ask for festive metaphor examples.

Recap: Exaggerate, Compare, Contrast!

  • Hyperbole: Over-the-top statements.
  • Simile: Comparisons using 'like' or 'as'.
  • Metaphor: Direct comparisons.

Now, let's put your new knowledge to the test!

Briefly recap all three, giving a quick, distinct example for each. Transition into the worksheet activity.

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Worksheet

Figurative Language Fun: Winter Wordplay Challenge

Part 1: Idiom Interpretations

Match the holiday-themed idiom to its correct meaning by drawing a line or writing the letter next to the idiom.

  1. To be on thin ice
    A. To be very happy or excited
    B. To be in a risky or precarious situation
    C. To feel cold



  2. Deck the halls
    A. To play cards indoors
    B. To decorate for the holidays
    C. To clean the house thoroughly



  3. The more the merrier
    A. A small group is better
    B. The more people involved, the more enjoyable the situation
    C. It's better to be alone



  4. To get into the Christmas spirit
    A. To start believing in ghosts
    B. To feel festive and joyful for the holiday season
    C. To receive many gifts



Part 2: Identify the Literary Device

Read each sentence and identify whether it contains a Hyperbole, Simile, or Metaphor. Write your answer on the line provided.

  1. The blizzard dumped a mountain of snow on our town.

    _________________________

  2. Her smile was like sunshine on a frosty morning.

    _________________________

  3. The Christmas tree was a sparkling jewel in the living room.

    _________________________

  4. I'm so hungry, I could eat an entire gingerbread house!

    _________________________

  5. The cold wind howled through the trees like a lonely wolf.

    _________________________

  6. The holiday market was a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds.

    _________________________

Part 3: Create Your Own!

Create your own sentence using each of the following literary devices. Make sure your sentences have a winter or holiday theme!

  1. Hyperbole:






  2. Simile:






  3. Metaphor:






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Answer Key

Figurative Language Fun: Winter Wordplay Challenge - Answer Key

Part 1: Idiom Interpretations

  1. To be on thin ice
    B. To be in a risky or precarious situation

    Thought Process: The phrase

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Worksheet

Figurative Language Fun: Winter Wordplay Challenge

Part 1: Idiom Interpretations

Match the holiday-themed idiom to its correct meaning by drawing a line or writing the letter next to the idiom.

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