Meme Assignment Your Students Will Love

Teaching the second half of the year is always the most challenging. We have fewer breaks and we all tend to get spring fever. If you have seniors, there's also the dreaded "senioritis" they all seem to come down with. (I think my seniors had it by the second week of school.)

It's even more important during this time of year, though, to offer engaging assignments they want to do. Yet, it's hard coming up with new ideas. Instead of trying to create them all yourself, just get to know your students. Last year when my students were fixated with websites like High School Memes, I decided to utilize that obsession with a meme assignment: create a meme related to the chapter we just read. I expanded the activity when I posted my "Meme Activity..." in my teacher store, which includes a presentation on what memes are, an icebreaker meme assignment, and a mini-research project about memes. It's a versatile bundle that any content teacher can utilize in class. I also have a full set of classroom posters teachers can download with popular memes I created. Check them out here: Teacher memes for classroom display or presentations.

Recently, my seniors made some memes based on Part I of Catching Fire. Some made additional memes for The Hunger Games, and some--who have read the entire series--were excited to create memes for the rest of Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I won't post those yet, but I do want to warn you if you haven't read Catching Fire: spoilers ahead!

You might be wondering, "What are the educational benefits of assigning a meme?" That is a valid question. Looking at the finished product, you probably won't see the learning process that went into it. But if you observe your students while they are working on them, here's what you'll find:
• Students re-reading the text to find something they can parody or reference.
• Students asking one another questions, such as, "Which character said...?" and "Didn't this event take place at...?" and "Why didn't you use this picture? Doesn't it go better with that scene?"
• Students using technology to create the actual meme (some used meme generators online, while others found images and used programs on their MacBooks to add their own text, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Fireworks, or Pages).
• Students editing their own work and peer editing one another's. (I stipulated that they needed correct spelling and usage, though some misspellings, like "Capitol" with an "a" instead of an "o" slipped through.)
• Students critiquing one another's finished product and offering suggestions, even explaining and justifying their choices.

Not only do they allow students to engage in critical analysis of each other's work, they also offer opportunities for deeper class discussions. Memes mimic real life; touchy topics are exposed, opening up your classroom to complex conversations you may have otherwise skipped.  

Do you use memes in class? Comment below and see my Facebook page for more conversation about using memes in class.

And one last thing: not all of the memes students turn in will be school-appropriate, no matter how many warnings you give them. For some students, they honestly don't realize where they crossed the line. For others, they are just testing the waters. I let them state their justification for using it and ask if there would have been a better way to say the same thing without losing the point. Some students made great arguments; others, not so much. But I believe in giving them the opportunity to be responsible rather than eliminate the activity all together. Here are a few that were questionable for various reasons. (Keep in mind these were made by 17, 18, and 19-year old students, so I'm more accepting of things that I wouldn't allow in my other classes.) Frankly, they still made me laugh!

Meme Activity for class includes:

Meme posters for your classroom:

Creative Class Projects: The Cherry on Top of Your Completed Unit

A "Minecraft" version of the 74th Hunger Games arena.

There's no better way to end a unit than assigning a creative project. It allows students to loosen up and have some fun with the content they've just learned. Creative projects work for all content areas, grade levels, and subject matter. Students need to practice creative thinking more often; it will help them later in life with problem solving and give them a leg-up in the job market.

So I'd like to share a slideshow of my students' latest creative projects. I'll be adding more to the mix in the next few days. And if you need some help with how to assign the projects, check out my past posts (there are links on the right side of the page to older posts), which have loads of ideas for creative projects. I also have several handouts and bundles in my teacher store.

So the next time you serve up a unit, allow your students 
to put the cherry on top!

The Capitol: How Do You Envision the Characters?

A great internet friend (who happens to live in Charlotte, NC) shared this link from The Charlotte Observer's post on the filming of "The Hunger Games" movie. It confirms that filming has begun on the Capitol scenes (in case you hadn't heard about that yet).

The article includes pictures of extras dressed in Capitol attire, and looking quite fake, I might add! I did expect to see more color, but these were just a few of the extras, so I am sure Collins' vision of a rainbow-colored world will come to life in the movie.

A few weeks ago a teacher from NC shared with me that the costumes were very "funky" with lots of dyed hair. She happens to live nearby and has many students who are in the movie as extras.

 She also shared with me that Suzanne Collins will have a small role in the reaping scene. "Apparently, they have added a scene where each Reaping candidate must give a blood sample for DNA identification," she said. Collins plays the woman who is conducting that process.

Classroom Connection
How do you picture the characters from the Capitol? Do you have your students draw depictions from the novel?

If they are artistic, this is a great opportunity for them to showcase their talent. Even though incorporating art is not included in our learning standards, it is, indeed, one way to spark interest in novels, especially for those reluctant to read. Some students are more visual, so allowing them to both see and create pictures can help them visualize the story and characters.

If they struggle with creating art, you can direct them to websites that help, such as http://www.sp-studio.de/, which allows users to create South-Park-style caricatures; or http://bomomo.com/.  Both sites allow you to keep your artwork, unlike others. Another option is to use Wordle.net  or Tagxedo.com. They can type in words associated to a character or chapter and create a word cloud.

This Week's Free Lessons

Here's a link to this week's free lessons:
TpT Newsletter

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Teaching Vocabulary with Creativity

Are you looking for a better way to introduce or review vocabulary words? Here's an activity you can use with any unit that is quick and effective, versatile, and encourages creativity in your students.

I call it "Vocabulary Scattergories," which is a play on the game Scattergories®. If you're familiar with the game, you know that you have lists of categories, such as "Things found in the kitchen," then you roll an alphabet die to choose the letter. Finally, you have a set amount of time to write down as many words that begin with that letter for each category.

Vocabulary Scattergories is slightly different. Students have their set vocabulary lists. Then, they choose a category and must find some connection to the word. This allows the student to think creatively (or "outside the box") and have some fun with words.  The categories are random but include things students can relate to, such as "Something you find in a teenager's locker" or "Something you find under a child's bed" and even "Character from the novel Twilight." Sometimes it is hard to find a connection and they must stretch for one. But that process really pushes their creativity and thinking skills–something they (we) all need to do more often.

To help them form their comparisons, I usually give them a prompt, such as:
____________ [insert vocabulary word] is/are like _____________________[insert category] because ______________________.

For chapter 1 in The Hunger Games, I would assign each student (or for larger classes, pairs of students) one vocabulary word. Next, they draw a category from the bucket. I give them a few minutes (the older the student, the less time they need) to complete the task in writing, then ask that they share their sentence with the class.

An example sentence may be:
Entrails are like cold leftover spaghetti [item you find in a refrigerator] because both are long, stringy, gooey, and not very appetizing.

Allow students to ask one another why they made that connection. In this case, the student clarified to the class that entrails refer to human or animal intestines that have been removed and/or exposed. (Insert groans and "Gross!" from the crowd here.)

This activity shouldn't be used for every chapter or even every unit.  I try to use it sparingly so it remains a "fun" activity rather than a chore. If you need Common Core vocabulary lessons, I have two packets for Common Core Vocabulary Graphic Organizers by grade levels (they are editable):
Common Core Vocabulary Activities/Organizers for Grades 6-12
Common Core Vocabulary Activities/Organizers for Grades 2-5

USE THE VOCABULARY SCATTERGORIES FOR CHARACTER ANALYSIS
I have used the categories in other ways, though. You can use the same prompt but instead of vocabulary words, use character names. (I created "character tags" that uses this same concept, except instead of categories I use pictures.) This is a great way to review characters before a test.


An example for character review is:
_______________[character name] is like a/an ________________[category] because __________________.

Katniss is like a grapefruit [type of fruit] because even though she looks like a sweet orange, she can be sour.

Other ways to use "Vocabulary Scattergories":
• Daily Bell-ringer for Word of the Day: To add some fun to your word of the day activities, have a student draw a category for the entire class. Each student writes a sentence comparing that word to something from the category. (The students would still need to look up the word of the day for the definition, but instead of writing out the definition, they would form a comparison instead.)

• Word Game: Have five-ten minutes left of class? Have students use scratch paper and draw a category. Say it out loud and give them one minute to write as many words they can think of that fit that category. Make it harder by choosing a letter the words must start with (like Scattergories®). For large groups, allow teams of students to work together. 

• Poetry writing: Have students draw a category and write a poem based on that topic OR each line of a poem must be a new category.

• Story Starters: Are students stumped writing short stories? Have them draw a category for inspiration.

• Longest Word Contest: Draw a category and see who can come up with the longest word relating to that category.

• Scrabble® with a Twist: Leave all the letter tiles face up. Each player takes a turn by drawing a category and forming a word relating to that category. They can draw tiles for each turn and only pick the amount of tiles they need for their word (blank tiles can be distributed to each player first or could be "purchased" with points). This encourages them to choose longer words, but also to think about words that relate to that category. It's a little bit easier for kids, yet encourages some creativity. When all the tiles are gone, the player with the most points wins.  For a real challenge, play Scrabble® the traditional way, but with the categories.

There are so many ways to use this activity. I copied mine onto colored paper and laminated them. I had a student office helper cut them with a paper cutter and I store them in plastic baggies. I usually dump them into a recycled bucket (laundry detergent, whipped cream, or margarine spread bowls work well) and have students draw from there so they can't see the categories as they choose.

Download the free preview or the separate FREE product link to try it out & see if you like it.

Live & Learn and Pass It On... Life Lessons of the Characters from The Hunger Games

The rainbow after the storm. Erie, IL Photo by T. Orman

Throughout the school year I like to share "life lessons" from former students and excerpts from H. Jackson Brown Jr.'s book Live & Learn and Pass It On.  If you've never read the book, chances are you may have received an email with a few of the "lessons" people (ages 5 to 95) have shared.  Some examples are:

"I've learned that being a teenager is as hard on your parents as it is on you." -Age 13
"I've learned that you should be careful when sitting down in a chair that has rollers." -Age 72
"I've learned as a sixth grade teacher that when I send more than two boys to the restroom at a time, the principal usually ends up bringing them back." -Age 34
"I've learned that I shouldn't inhale through my nose when I'm eating a powdered doughnut." -Age 51
"I've learned that you don't really know a person until you've made them mad." -Age 22
"I've learned that the more you're in a hurry, the longer it takes to get your locker open." -Age 13
"I've learned that when my older sister says she'll be out of the bathroom in five minutes, I should just sit down and