ELEM SHARE Riddles lesson

[Edith Fuller <efuller@PPS.K12.OR.US>]

RIDDLES LESSON


I learned a formula for making up riddles at a Peggy Sharp seminar.  I
use
this lesson each year with 3rd graders. (I think 2nd graders aren't
savvy
enough yet). It ties in perfectly with the Hall/Eisenberg early reader
riddle books.

The theory behind this method is to make up the punch line first; then
the
question will be obvious.  Most kids try to make up an outrageous
question
and think that it's funny because they are being silly. (Why did the
man
wear a poopy diaper on his head?) Forget the question!  The power is
in the
answers.

This is a 2-week lesson.  My library periods are 30 minutes; I try to
divide
equally between lesson time and check-out time.  So these lessons
could be
acocmplished in 15 minutes; more time is better.

Making up Riddles
FIRST WEEK:
1.  CHOOSE A BROAD TOPIC  I use "outer space" for my demonstration.

2.  HAVE THE STUDENTS CALL OUT WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TOPIC.  I
write
the suggestions on a board
     star, rings of Saturn, asteroid belt, meteor shower, sun spots

3.  LIST WORDS/PHRASES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE WORDS IN #2 ABOVE  Here
is
where
some imagination is required.  But it is not that difficult.
    star:  rock star, movie star
    rings of Saturn:  rings in a jewelry store
    asteroid belt:  a belt to hold up pants
    meteor shower:  a shower with water
    sun spot:  a dog named Spot
    meteor:  meatier

4.  NOW USE THE VARIATIONS IN #3 TO CREATE THE ANSWERS TO RIDDLES.
THE
QUESTIONS
    WILL BE OBVIOUS  I give students the answers and let them think of
the
questions.  IN the examples below, the answer to the riddle is listed
first,
then the question.

    star-rock star
    A ROCK STAR--What kind of star plays the guitar?

    rings of Saturn--rings in a jewelry store
    BECAUSE IT HAD SO MANY RINGS--WHy did Saturn open a jewelry store?

    meteor shower-a shower with water
    IN A METEOR SHOWER--How did the astronaut get clean?

    meteor--meatier
    BECAUSE IT IS METEOR (MEATIER) THAN ON EARTH--WHy did the t-rex
like to
eat
    in space?

    sun spot--dog named spot
    SUN SPOT--What did the astronaut name her dog?


SECOND WEEK:
I ASSIGN THE STUDENTS THE TOPIC OF "THE OCEAN" AND LET THEM MAKE UP
THEIR
OWN RIDDLES DURING LIBRARY TIME. AT THE END OF CLASS, THEY CAN SHARE
THEIR
WORK.  To get them started, I have them call out words/phrases
associated
with oceans and I write them on the blackboard.
Here is one of my favorite student "ocean" riddles:
What do you do when you are on an ocean liner that is sinking?
Try Panic (titanic)

This lesson has been highly successful for me. If you check out the
Hall/Eisenberg riddle books, you will see that they all follow this
formula.

Have fun,
Ann Bakkensen
Rieke School, Portland Public Schools

 + + + + + +


Edith Fuller
Librarian, Professional Library
Portland Public Schools
Portland OR 97208

efuller@pps.k12.or.us
phone: +1 503 916 3406
fax: +1 503 916 3022
Professional Library web page
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/district/depts/edmedia/profhome.shtml

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