Building Compound Words

1. Explain what compound words are and ask students to come up with a list of words that they might pair with other words to form a compound noun. Have each child pick one word to use as their root word and write it on a folded piece of construction paper.
2. Challenge each student to come up with words that can come before or after their root word, for example BOOK/store, note/BOOK, BOOK/shelf, etc. Then have them put these supplemental words on smaller pieces of cut construction paper to be taped as flaps to the larger main word. Encourage them to illustrate and decorate the words.
3. Invite students to find others whose words might work with theirs. Perhaps someone chose CARD as their root word and they see "note" attached to BOOK. This student could then make a new smaller flap that says "note."
4. Display these words around the classroom and encourage students to add more flaps as they discover new words that go together.

LA: Add drawings or other visual displays to written text to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

LA: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Have students create silly compound words by trading flaps, then ask them to create a funny definition of the word. For example, take the "candy" from "candy/STORE" and put it with the BOOK from "note/BOOK" to make "candy/BOOK" - a place to write down ideas for delicious treats.

Create a game show that uses their words. Write a question on a large folded piece of paper and use some of their words as responses. Which are funny and which are correct?