The children's book character, little dinosaur Thesaurus Rex, rhymes and uses synonyms cleverly as he introduces students to the exciting world of language, grammar, and literacy.
Rhyming Words Lesson Overview
This academically strong grammar lesson plan combines a children’s read-aloud book with focused activities to teach English usage and strengthen grammar skills. It is designed for elementary grade students and takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete. Use it as a stand-alone study or in conjunction with other grammar lesson plans for an entertaining way to teach.
The objectives for this language arts lesson are:
- Following verbal instructions
- Improving oral language skills
- Recognizing similar phonetic patterns
- Identifying synonyms and rhyming words
Combining hands-on lesson worksheets and reading aloud lesson activities is a proven way to teach reading and grammar. Students learn to connect printed words with spoken words, and the engaging illustrations help them visualize and internal meanings and concepts.
Lesson Activities Supply List
This easy-to-teach study requires few supplies and little teacher preparation. Recommendations for preparing the student worksheets are given, and the activities can be customized to suit any class or curriculum.
The following supplies are needed for this lesson plan:
- One copy of Thesaurus Rex, Laya Steinberg, [Barefoot Books, 2005]
- Flash cards for rhyming words
- Synonym lesson worksheets
- Blank index cards
Prior to teaching the lesson, teachers prepare flash cards for the rhyming word pairs and a worksheet for the synonym lesson. Reading and grammar skills are reinforced by a quick review of phonetic skills and the meaning and usage of words that rhyme or have similar definitions.
Vocabulary Lesson Worksheets
There are eleven sets of vocabulary words sprinkled throughout this enchanting children’s book. Make flash cards by printing each rhyming word neatly on blank index cards. Glue a matching picture or image to the flip side of the card to furnish a visual clue to the written word. Here is a list of the words that rhyme for this story:
Bend, mend, poking, soaking, swill, spill, romp, swamp, scrub, tub, glide, ride, muck, stuck, shout, out, gnaw, raw, flies, surprise, tonight, good night.
Teachers prepare a worksheet using synonym words from the book. One suggested idea for a worksheet is to list the key synonym words in one column and similar words in another column. Students draw lines to match synonym word families.
The synonym groups for Thesarus Rex are:
- Exercising: stretching, reaching, extending, bending
- Exploring: hunting, searching, foraging
- Drink: sip, sup, swallow, swill
- Play: frolic, rollick, frisk, romp
- Cleanse: wash, bathe, scour, scrub
- Slip: slither, skid, slide, glide
- Mud: slime, slush, mire, muck
- Call: howl, yowl, squeal, shout
- Eat: munch, crunch, nibble, gnaw
- Leaps: bounces, jumps, springs, flies
- Wrapped up: bundled, covered, tucked in tight
The lesson can be extended if time permits by instructing students to use one or more of the synonyms to create their own original sentences.
Teacher Lesson Plans Methodology
The teacher reads the book Thesaurus Rex to the class. Teachers point to rhyming words and synonyms as they are pronounced to provide visual and auditory links for students. After the children have heard the story, they participate in two hands-on activities to reinforce the lesson.
Let the children work independently or corporately to match the pairs of rhyming words using the flashcards. To conclude this teaching activity, the teacher holds up a card with the word side facing the class. She points to the word and says it aloud. The children repeat the word, and then the teacher lets the students take turns calling out the words that rhyme.
The teacher begins the grammar lesson by explaining what synonyms are and how they function in English language. He reviews the list of synonyms from the story and gives the children a worksheet to assess their comprehension.
Literacy Lesson Extension and Book List
This teacher lesson plan is easily extended by incorporating gross motor skills movements to complement the action words of the story. Here is a recommended reading list for other literacy and grammar themed books.
Max’s Words, Kate Banks, [Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2006]
The Boy Who Loved Words, Roni Schotter, [Schwartz & Wade, 2006]
Miss Alaineus: a Vocabuary Disaster, Debra Frasier, [Sandpiper, 2007]
By the end of this lesson plan, students have heard a story, learned to recognize and use synonyms, and practiced matching rhyming words. The children’s book Thesarus Rex has been used as a teacher’s resource and the focus of the related activities. Prewriting skills are developed and a strong grammatical foundation is laid.
Donna Cosmato - Donna is a Certified Image Consultant, author and public speaker, whose first book Buying Your First Home? will be available in bookstores ...
