Homographs
"Homograph Blues" |
Homographs are essentially two words that look the same but vary in meaning. The GrammarSong video “Homograph Blues” engages students by creating a story line in which the main character in the video is confused because he keeps misinterpreting his mother’s instructions because she is using homographs. This leads to trouble! Although only a few homograph examples are used to make the point within the video, the situational format is highly memorable, and students catch on to the concept quite easily. The GrammarSong activities provide multiple learning approaches to applying this knowledge using real world and paper/pencil strategies. |
Review Video & Follow These Instructional Guidelines
Third Grade
- Complete grammar sheet “Using Homographs” either as an independent assignment or use the information presented as a warm-up activity or within a cooperative learning structure.
- If needed, advance to any Fourth Grade or Fifth Grade Recommendations.
- Creating Connections: Watch GrammarSong videos “Homograph Blues” and “Homophone Rap.” Invite students to bring in riddles that use homophones and homographs for humor. Ask students to explain whether the riddle they are telling uses a homograph or a homophone, and why.
Fourth Grade & Fifth Grade
- Complete grammar sheet “Creating Sentences with Homographs.” Notice homographs and multiple-meaning words when communicating orally within the classroom.
- Extra Engagement: Print and cut apart “Homograph Activity Cards.” Distribute the cards to partners or groups of students. Invite each group to formulate a skit modeled after the video where one person is confused while the other gives directions using homographs. **This is a challenging activity. Students may need to consult dictionaries if having trouble figuring out more than one meaning for a given word.**
- Creating Connections: Review GrammarSong videos “Homophone Rap” and “Homograph Blues.” Help students differentiate between homographs and homophones by orally reading the sentences in GrammarSong activity “Oral Homograph and Homophone Differentiation.” Students could hold up individual white boards denoting whether each thinks the sentences represent homographs or homophone usage. This activity could also be presented as a partner or small group collaboration. **Students should verbalize WHY they arrived at the answer they chose.**
- If desired, invite students to bring in riddles that use homophones and homographs for humor. Ask students to explain whether the riddle they are telling uses a homograph or a homophone, and why.