For this creative engagement activity, I decided to convert our class into a small construction site. When my students came to the class, they didn't know whether they should enter or not (lol - they entered of course). The fact they questioned it was funny. But the reason for this construction site was for students to create words from affixes and roots and build meaning for these words. It allowed students to become familiar with word parts so whenever they saw them used in other words, they would hopefully be familiar with them and can determine the new words meaning.
So, the lesson went a bit like this. I started our discussion or hook (which technically began at the start of class) by asking them who wears construction hats. I also asked what happens at a construction site. This allowed me to help students make the connection of what they were doing today. The conversation of a construction workers duties were connected to that of their duties today, building words to form meanings.
Students were placed into pairs (or you can put them into groups depending on your numbers) and given a sheet that contained affixes and root words. Before students began, I presented an example so that students can see exactly how the task should be performed. Afterwards, they were given their blue prints to write out their words and meanings. Students were allowed to create three real words and one nonsensical word. I guarantee you that task is enough for students who are at this grade level.
After students found their words, they were required to use them simple, compound and complex sentences (one word used for one of those sentence structures). We were also learning these sentences structures (and still are basically) but allowed me to mesh two standards in one activity. Honestly, the students weren't too excited to form sentences afterwards, they only wanted to form words. But overall I think the lesson went well and I'm literally excited to do it again next year.
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