[3rdgradeteach]

My students for the last couple of years have had very little exposure and understanding of antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, rhyming words, compound words, etc when they come to me. Majority are second language learners which adds another difficulty.I am trying to think of a center that will make up for this lack and at the same time diversify for the different levels and learning type that will be coming in.
I was thinking of doing things like giving them a choice of activity that has to do with the same skill.
Example:
Antonyms:
1. Play concentration and then write a list of the antonyms found.
2. Choose a certain number of antonym pairs and write a sentence using both words: My mother likes to take a hot shower but my brother likes to take a cold one.
3. Choose a certain number of antonym pairs and draw a picture illustrating the differences.
4. Read 2 sentences and identify the antonyms from the sentences.
5. Write a song, poem, or paragraph(story) using antonyms.

I am trying to think of some other types of activities that would give the students extra practice and help build their English vocabulary. I can use the above activities for the other types of word skills but am hoping that some of you wonderful teachers can help me brainstorm some other varied activities. I would like to be able to offer the students 6-10 to choose from making sure that I reach as many students as possible.

[ConnieWI]

Matching #1:
--Draw a picture or write words on a 12" x 12" piece of construction paper (clown face, alphabet letter, "You are Special!"). (You could also use a calendar picture or some other picture [coloring book, etc.] and just mount it on a piece of construction paper. It needs to be glued a lot so when it is cut apart, the edges stay together. That makes this step so much easier!)
--Now turn the paper over and draw 2" x 2" or 3" x 3" squares. In each square, write an antonym. Laminate and cut apart.
--On a second piece of 12" x 12" piece of construction paper, draw another set of squares. Write the correct answer in the squares. Laminate, but do not cut apart.
--Students place the smaller squares on the larger square. They can then check their answers by turning over the smaller squares to form the picture.
--This gets tricky to make, so be careful. It is easy to get confused. The cards may be in the correct place, but the picture does not work. The kids love this game!!

Matching #2:
You could also make a rectangle, divide it in half, and write an antonym on each half. Then cut the rectangle through the middle...not straight, but jagged, like a puzzle piece. Students match the halves and write the antonyms.

Card Game:
--Get some cool paper...the kind used for scrapbooking. With pencil, draw lines. The boxes should be the size of playing cards. Write antonyms on the cards (no-yes, up-down)...one word per card.
--Laminate and cut apart. Store in a soap box.
--Students put cards between them with word-side down. Each partner alternately draws four cards. If there are any matches, they are placed in front of the partner so the other partner can check them.
--Partner #1 picks up a card. If he/she has a pair, they are laid down. If not, one card is discarded, word side up.
--Partner #2 can now choose from the word side down pile or the discard pile. If he/she chooses from the discard pile, he/she must lay down a pair.
--Play continues until all cards are matched. The winner is the partner with the most matches.

Puzzles:
Crossword puzzles and word searches would also be good activities for this center. www.puzzlemaker.com is a website that was suggested to me by another poster at proteacher. Find what you need on the left-hand side of the website. Then choose the type of puzzle you want to make from the drop-down box.

Bingo:
You could make bingo boards to introduce antonyms, synonyms, etc. This would be a whole group activity, but a fun way to learn a new skill.

Commercially Made Games:
There are also commercially made games for the topics you mentioned. I bet you could find them at a teacher store. I looked in the catalogs I have on my desk, but had no luck!

You might even find commercially made bingo games. This would sure save a lot of time. Bingo boards are time consuming to make!

[L T]

Awesome idea for the matching!!!!! I will definitely use that in my literacy stations next year (Or should I say next month )!!

[3rdgradeteach]

for the suggestions. I have done the puzzle game with coloring book pages and alphabetizing but never thought to do it with matching antonyms. I will be trying these ideas.

[ConnieWI]

I found this game at school today while cleaning. I am attaching the directions.