Idioms
by Sara White, sara.white@cpsb.org

Content Area(s)
English/Language Arts

Grade Level(s)
6, 7, 8, 

Overview
During the poetry unit, students will analyze various poetic elements. In this brief lesson, students will be introduced to idioms and their use in literature, especially poetry. Students will define idiom, discuss the meanings of several idioms, and then illustrate their own idiom to share with the other students in the class who will analyze the meaning of the illustrated idiom.

Software
Sketchy
Memo

Technology
Idiom worksheet

Objectives
Students will define idiom.
Students will analyze several idioms.
Students will illustrate an idiom using Sketchy in their handheld.
Students will analyze illustrated idioms created by other students.

Procedures
1.List a couple of idioms on the board. (It’s raining cats and dogs or Take it easy) Ask students what these expressions mean.
2.Define idiom.
3.Divide students into groups of fours, groups will work together to discover the meanings of frequently used idioms.
4.Groups will then develop a list of at least four other idioms that they have heard or encountered in literature.
5.Each group member will select one idiom from the list created by the group to illustrate. Students will use Sketchy on their handheld to illustrate the idiom. Students will not label their idiom.
6.Once students have illustrated their idioms, assign each group member a number. Then have all of the 1’s become a group, and then the 2’s become a group, and so on. In this way students will now work with a new set of group members.
7.Each member of the new groups should beam their idiom illustrations/animations to all the members of their new group.
8.Students will then open Memo in their handheld and make notes about each illustration viewed in Sketchy. Students will need to include what idiom they think is being illustrated and true meaning of the idiom.
9.Students will sync their handhelds in order to print their idiom memo to turn in.

Other Supporting Material
Idiom%20Worksheet

Submitted on: 1/11/2006 8:14:28 PM