"Words convey the mental treasures of one period to the
generations that follow; and laden with this, their precious freight, they sail
safely across gulfs of time in which empires have suffered shipwreck and the
languages of common life have sunk into oblivion." - Anonymous
WordMasters
WordMasters Presentation Format
The WordMasters Challenge
is an exercise in critical thinking, which first encourages students to
become familiar with a set of interesting new words (considerably harder
than grade level), and then challenges them to use those words to complete
analogies expressing various kinds of logical relationships. Working to
solve the Challenge analogies helps students learn to think both
analytically and metaphorically. Though most analogy-solving and
vocabulary-boosting activities have been created for high school students,
the WordMasters materials have been specifically designed for younger
students, in grades three through
eight. They are particularly well suited for able and interested children,
who rise to the challenge of learning new words and enjoy the logical
puzzles posed by analogies.
There
are three lists given out: one in October, January and March. Students are
expected to learn all the definitions, important synonyms and antonyms for
the 25 words from each list. The first meet or test in December is over
List One only with 20 analogies; the second meet is in February over both
List One and Two but still 20 analogies; and the final meet is in April over
all three lists and again only 20 analogies.
List
#1
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Students will research their words and write up the information onto the
WordMasters Research paper
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These will be turned in the day students present their work on the white
board to the class.
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Once the information is written on the board, students will then read it
out to the class and answer questions.
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If two students are assigned to one word, they must do their own
research, turn in their own research paper but contribute to the one
presentation from the board.
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Students will be expected to make flash cards for all list words and
keep them with each successive WordMasters list.
List #2
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Students will research their words and write up the information onto the
WordMasters Research paper
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Students will turn in their research paper on the date assigned.
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Their presentation before the class will be as a poem, or a song. This
poem or song needs to have all definitions, key synonym and antonyms
present. Students need to repeat their list word clearly 3-6 times in
the presentation to make sure the student audience remembers it.
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Only students with the same assigned words may word together in their
presentation
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Students will be expected to make flash cards for all list words and
keep them with each successive WordMasters list.
List #3
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Students will research their words and write up the information onto the
WordMasters Research paper
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Students will turn in their research paper on the date assigned.
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Their presentation before the class will be as a poem, a song or a
skit. This poem or song needs to have all definitions, key synonym and
antonyms present. Students need to repeat their list word clearly 3-6
times in the presentation to make sure the student audience remembers
it.
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Students may group with up to 3 people total – these must be words that
are either synonyms or antonyms.
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All groups must get the teacher’s approval before proceeding to the
actual skit.
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Final draft, typed scripts or poems or songs must be turned in the day
of the presentation.
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Only students with the same assigned words may word together in their
presentation
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Students will be expected to make flash cards for all list words and
keep them with each successive WordMasters list.
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