Lessons & Units :: Figurative Language 4th Grade Unit

Lesson 3: Puns

Lesson Plan

Rhyme and PUNishment: Adventures in Wordplay

Rhyme and PUNishment: Adventures in Wordplay
Learning Goal
Identify and describe puns.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: Rhyme & PUNishment Adventures in Wordplay by Brian P. Cleary, chart paper, markers

  • Teacher Modeling

    will explain the definition of a pun (using words that either sound the same or have two different meanings in a humorous way). I will read the first two pages (“What is a Pun?”) of Rhyme & PUNishment: Adventures in Wordplay by Brian P. Cleary aloud. I will present the two pun poems on page 23 to the class on chart paper. I will explain the double meaning of the pun (in purple).

  • Think Check

    Ask: How can I identify puns and their meanings? Students should respond that you first read the text and looked for words that have a double meaning. Then you thought about how the author intended the text to be interpreted and whether the correct word was used.

  • Guided Practice

    will read the pun poem on page 32. We will identify the puns, identify the correct words for the poem and explain their meaning.

  • Independent Practice

    will read aloud the pun poem from page 33 and replace the puns with the correct words. (Student Independent Practice is provided below in Teacher and Student Materials.) Note: You will need to write the pun poems on chart paper before the lesson for the Direct Teaching section of this lesson.

Build Student Vocabulary perch

Tier 2 Word: perch
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story We searched about the kitchen from our perch atop a chair.
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) A perch is a high position. When the people were searching from atop a perch, they were sitting on top of a chair to look down and find what they were looking for.
Students repeat the word Say the word perch with me: perch
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts He was perched on the roof of his house during the flood. He saw a lot from his perch on the lifeguard’s chair. The bird was perched on my shoulder.
Students provide examples What can be used as a perch? Start by saying: “A ________________ can be used as a perch.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? perch
Additional Vocabulary Words starved, pest

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading the pun,"Give me Bach my Schubert" on the "What is a Pun?" page, explain that Bach and Schubert were classical musicians. Johann Bach was an ordinary working musician from Germany. He didn't become famous for writing music until after his death. He wrote music for organs, keyboards, and pianos, in addition to other kinds of orchestras and instruments. Time permitting, play a sample of Bach's classical music for your class.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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User Comments

This is very helpful

Submitted by icyclement63 on 3/26/15