Anagrams appear throughout the novel Long Way Down. The narrator, Will, explains to the reader that an anagram is when you rearrange the letters in one word to make a new word. Will says that the words are different but still connected, like brothers. In this activity, students will identify the different anagrams Will mentions in the novel using a T Chart. For each pair of words, students will provide an illustration and a brief description of how they relate to the theme and how the words relate to each other.
As a creative addition to the assignment, students can also make up their own anagrams including an illustration and description of how the words are related.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies anagrams in Long Way Down. Illustrate each and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Begin the lesson by introducing the concept of anagrams in class with the help of a simple and brief definition suitable for younger students. Explain how a word consists of many alphabetical letters and if we try to rearrange those letters, we can get a new word. Teachers can also first begin a general discussion on similar literary concepts, use relatable examples, and then narrow it down to anagrams.
Before students actually start looking for anagrams, it is important that they have a strong hold on vocabulary. Teachers can dedicate 5-10 minutes at the beginning of each class towards learning and discussing new vocabulary words and encourage the students to learn vocabulary outside of class as well through activities such as reading.
One way to make anagrams more fun is to provide visual aids or any sort of clue to help students guess the word. Teachers can use this at the very beginning of this activity to help the students grasp the concept in an easier way and create a foundation for further practice.
Once the students are more familiar with the concept of anagrams and have a better vocabulary base, teachers can provide them with the challenge of solving most anagrams within a minute. This will help promote critical thinking skills in students and encourage healthy competition in class. If not possible, teachers can just focus on providing worksheets to students for practice without any time constraints or pressure.
Conclude the lecture with a positive note and some words for motivation for the students. Encourage the students to continue combining words in creative ways and apply new concepts and knowledge in their daily lives to reinforce the ideas.
Anagrams frequently coexist with other literary devices including wordplay, symbolism, and foreshadowing. Using these literary devices together can impact the overall tone and mood of the story and enhance the significance of other devices. It can also help students perform analysis on a deeper level and help them gain new insights about the narrative and the characters.
Yes, the use of anagrams can reveal a character's innermost feelings or state of mind. Characters may divulge secrets, fears, or subconscious desires by solving or making anagrams, giving readers a glimpse into their inner selves. In the case of Long Way Down, Will uses anagrams to express his feelings which can be related to the overall themes of the narrative on a broader level and showcase his development with the themes.