May Project: Vocabulary Day

LA Project: Vocabulary Day Based on the book: Miss Alaineus, a Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier

Due Date: April 19, 2013

This year in language arts, we have talked a lot about the use of great vocabulary words and “Amazing Words”…both in writing and in conversation. We often hear new words and see new words, but do we always understand the definition or know how to use them ourselves? This month, your project will challenge you to look at vocabulary in a whole new way. Put your thinking caps on, get creative, and be prepared to share a great vocabulary word with your fellow students.

You will be required to:  find a challenging vocabulary word from your Reading Street books.  create a costume that will demonstrate the meaning of your chosen word  wear it on Vocabulary Day. o You will only wear this during Language Arts class, so make it a costume that you can easily change into.  display the word somehow on your costume.  be able to explain the definition of the word on Vocabulary Day.  Be able to use your vocabulary word correctly in a sentence.  Decorate a container/box to fit your word…other students from the school will drop coins into this bucket to make you speak (the money collected will go towards the fifth grade field trip to Cosi).

The following awards will be given during Vocabulary Day:  Best Content Word  Funniest Word  Word That Made Us Think  Miss Alaineus Award (Most Original Use of a Word)  Best Overall *Reminder: All words must be approved by Mrs. Gasser!

Examples of words and costumes used by my nephew’s second grade class during their Vocabulary Day (if second graders can be this creative, I can’t wait to see what you can do):  Zany: the girl wore a boa, colored socks, crazy dress  Foliage: the girl made leaves and put them on a hat and shirt and pants  Hypocondriac: the boy wore a mask, gloves, bandages, scrubs  Recycle: the boy wore all types of items that could be recycled as well as the symbol  Illuminate: the boy wore a bunch of Christmas tree lights  Identification: the girl took a poster board, made it look like a driver’s license, and cut out the are where the face would go (she put her face there)  Confection: a boy used an intertube (round pool floatie) and decorated it like a donut…with icing and sprinkles  Absorb: a girl covered her head, shirt, and pants with sponges. *You may not use these words for your project!

Extension Project (Extra Credit): Alphabet Book Open a dictionary to the A section and write a sentence using three words that begin with the letter A. Try to select words that are different, unusual, or surprising to you. When you have completed your A sentence, move on to the B section. Continue writing one sentence using three words from each letter until you complete the alphabet. I’d like your sentences to tell me something about your daily activities— consider writing about what you are doing, thinking, or feeling.

Requirements:  Make an alphabet book  Put each letter/sentence on its own page  Draw a picture to go with each sentence  Each letter is worth an extra credit point…so you must have CHALLENGING words!  You must complete the entire book to turn it in for extra credit!

Grading Rubric: Points Points Earned Expectations for Vocabulary Day Possible Choose a challenging VOCABULARY 10 word Create a COSTUME that demonstrates the meaning of the vocabulary word & wear it on 10 Vocabulary Day. Be able to explain your costume. Display the vocabulary word on your costume…it must be spelled correctly and 10 everybody must be able to read it from the back of the room. Be able to EXPLAIN your DEFINITION of your vocabulary word and use it in a 10 sentence. TOTAL 40 Extension Project: Alphabet Book 26