“Bouncing Letters”

Word Search

Bouncing Letters Word Search/Spelling test/English/Grades 4

(Can be modified for older/younger grades)

Time-One Class Period

September 26^th/2006

Loriana Spaziani

Bridge: Having the students create their own word search captures their attention and motivates them to want to create it.

            Once the students switch their word searches with another students they can have fun by challenging their classmates word search and try to find all the words.

            Creating sentences with each of the words will be fun for the students because they can create their sentences however they want.

Learning Objective: Doing this activity will allow the students to recognize the letters in the words, and the order they go in.  It also helps build the student’s memory and recognition with each of the words, by looking for the words one by one and recognizing the word within the random letters. 

            Doing their own sentences ensures students can develop and understanding of the words and are able to use them in a sentence correctly. 

Pre-assessment: The class will use words from their spelling test.  There will be a total of ten words.  Students will have a spelling test each week. Mondays will be the introduction of the words Mid-week is when the activity will be and Fridays will be when the test is to ensure the students know how to spell the words correctly. 

Participatory Learning:

• Students will work individually on their own computers to create their own word searches. 

Steps:

1. Students will log onto their computers.
2. Students will click the internet button
3. Students will then go to http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/WordSearchSetupForm.html
4. Then the student’s will follow the steps on the page.
5. Once the students complete step six, they can then hit the “create My Puzzle” button.
6. Then the students will have their very own word search puzzle.
7. The students will then be asked to print off two copies of the puzzle, one for themselves and the other for a classmate to do.
8. Once the students have printed off their puzzle they will then find a partner and give each other their puzzles. The students will do each other’s puzzles.

• Once they are done they will return to their desks and create their own sentences with each of the words. 
• If there are students who finish early they can get together and share their sentences with each other. 

Post Assessment: The students will do their spelling at the end of the week.  This will show what the each student has learned and see his or her development and understanding of what each word means, and how it is spelt.

Summary: This activity will be beneficial for the students because it creates a fun study guide.  It also ensures students will gain the knowledge on the meaning of the words and the correct spelling.  By doing the activity the students will learn to recognize the words.