Project for TESOL PP104-07: Teaching Vocabulary and Grammar Online                  Author: James Barrie             Link to PP104-07 Wiki

Topic: Zlata's Diary:  Using Synonyms      

Student Population

   1. Designed for middle school to high school students in F2F using an interactive  online environment, where possible.

   2. Can be used in ESL settings where literature, Zlata's Diary, is used in teaching English and developing concepts while reading in English.

Essential Questions

  1. What is a synonym?

  2. How can knowledge of synonyms improve my vocabulary?

  3. What tools are available to develop synonym and vocabulary skills?

Resources/Materials

  1. This plan assumes the students have the following accounts and knowledge of use:  Google - mail, documents, groups, and bloger and PBwiki.

  2. You will need to establish a Google group and a Google documents area where your students can collaborate and post completed work.

Proceedure

  Introduction 

                        1. Discuss and define synonym - Have students read What is a Synonym? 

                        2. In a Google discussion group or in F2F class setting, review the chart having original word and synonym categories with the students. 

  Instruction

                        1.  Go to Synonym Defined.  Review with students in a Google discussion group or in F2F class setting

                        2.  Go to Zlata Vocabulary- Part 1.  Have students read and think about each word prior to reading in Zlata's Diary.

                        3.  Have students complete: Vocabulary Brainstorming, a chart.  (you can assign this as a paper activitiy, or an interactive cooperative group activity using Google Documents).

  Practice

                        1.  Read - passages through Friday, October 11, 1991 in Zlata's Diary.  Note words selected in Zlata Vocabulary - Part 1.

                        2.  Quia - practice using the Zlata vocabulary with these Quia games or activities: Zlata's Diary List 1.  The activities are matching, word search, flashcards, and concentration.

                        3.  Hot Potatoes - a crossword puzzle for more practice using the Zlata vocabulary: Zlata's Diary - Vocabulary Part 1.

                        4.  Word Map in PowerPoint.  Using your assigned words from Zlata, find synonyms, antonyms, a definition of the word, and use the word in an appropriate sentence.

                             Follow this link, Word Map, read the directions, review the contents, and complete your slide(s).  Post your work on Google Documents. 

                             NOTE: You may assign 2-3 words to a student or certain words to a small group of 2-3 students.

                        5.  Quia - Play the challenge game, Rags to Riches.  Will you become a millionaire? Synonyms for Zlata Part 1.

  Evaluation

                        1.  Discuss the vocabulary and passages from Zlata.  You can do this in a F2F setting or interactively online in Google groups, or location of your choice.  Be sure the discussion focuses

                             on the content of Zlata's Diary,the intended word meaning and usage in Zlata.  You can extend word meanings to other contexts through discussion.

                              2.   Have students answer the essential questions.  They should make a wiki or blogger page, answering the three essential quesitions.  Encourage the students to be creative in their responses

                                    and using examples from Zlata's Diary.  Give opportunity for peer feedback to wiki pages or blog entries.