Spell It Out

Pre-K through Grade 2

Grade 3 through Grade 6

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Grade Levels Grades 3 through 6

Estimated Teaching Time 10 to 15 minutes

Interdisciplinary Connections

• Building vocabulary (Language Arts)
• Acrostic writing (Language Arts)
• Identifying parts-of-speech (Language Arts)

Objectives

Students will build thematic vocabulary as they brainstorm words having to do with their health lesson.

What Students Do

Students will help teachers think of health-related words that spell out a message. They may write words in health journals or share them with others.

Materials Required

• Blackboard and chalk
• Pencil and paper
• Optional Dictionaries

Advanced Preparation

• Select a list of health-related words to develop, or use suggestions below.

Suggested Sequence
1.Write a word on the board vertically, and ask students to read it aloud. For example:
G
E
R
M

2. Discuss the meaning of the word. Beginning with the first letter, ask class to think of an adjective that begins with that letter and describes or relates to the concept of the word. For example:
G — grimy

3. Continue in this fashion until the word is complete. The final letter of each word should be a naming word, or noun, so the list presents a complete picture. Thus, the ideal string of words is a series of adjectives concluding in a noun, such as:
G — grimy
E — ever-growing
R — rude
M — menace

4. Have the class come up with a list of health-related words. Let them each write their own acrostics.

5. Share solutions with the class.

6. If there is doubt as to whether any adjective relates to the original, vertically written word, a class vote could determine its suitability.

Other Examples
B — bad
A — airborne
C — collecting
T — tiny
E — evil
R — rabid
I — irritating
A — ailment

S — safe
A — antiseptic
N — neat
I — important
T — tested
I — interactive
Z — zero germs
E — excellent
R — remedy

Extensions

• Collect words and solutions into a book for the class. Feature the most creative solutions on the classroom bulletin board.
• Ask students to write a paragraph, essay or story about health and personal hygiene that uses at least 10 words the student or class has come up with during this activity.
• This activity lends itself well to an allclass game or competition. The class could be divided into two teams and individually brainstorm adjectives. The side that comes up with the most creative words wins.
• Students may brainstorm their own lists of word topics, then trade with classmates to complete with adjectives. Encourage students to use dictionaries for more ideas.
• In a related word activity, see how many other words students can create out of some of the health-related words that have been discussed. For example:
  SANITIZE
  1. tan 4. zit 7. sane
  2. tin 5. eaten 8. ants
  3. sit 6. seat 9. size

Words to Share

• Acrostic