Idioms
Engagement-­‐ Monkey Business at Lewisville
One day Emma was up to monkey business. She had been putting water on the teacher's
chair, so that when she sat down she would get a wet bottom. Chris realized that if the
teacher sat on the seat, she would be mad and then the whole class would be in the same
boat. Ms. Hart would be mad and they would all be in trouble. James didn't want to get
in trouble so he quickly wiped up the water. Solving the class's problem was a piece of
cake for James. Then Britt had a change of heart. He and Emma were still up to
monkey business and they both decided to put the water back on the teacher’s chair. Jose
was worried that they would ruin Ms. Hart’s pants and that it would cost an arm and a leg
to replace her pants and he didn't want to spend any of his money for a trick that Emma
and Britt were going to play. At this point Adriana was fed up with all this
nonsense. She said, "My mom says that I am the apple of her eye. If I get into trouble she
might not be so proud of me." She got out of her desk, wiped up the water and sat down,
just as Ms. Hart came into the room. Ms. Hart took one look at the class and realized that
someone had been up to monkey business, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She
asked the class, "I smell monkey business, what's going on here?" Izabella answered,
"Ms. Hart, we are high as kites because this is going to be a holiday weekend, that's why
we are looking like we have been up to monkey business." Ms. Hart, didn't really believe
Izabella but she was as high as a kite as well because she just eaten a bar of
chocolate. Ms. Hart thought to herself that teaching was not a piece of cake and she
certainly didn't get paid an arm and a leg and kids were always getting up to monkey
business. Olivia was tired of all this nonsense, it had been a long week and she just
wanted to go home and hit the hay. But Ms. Hart was nuts about her class so she simply
said, "Get out your Math books!"
1. What do you think about the phrases in blue? How would you explain them? 2. Write in your journals your answer (I will check to make sure all are engaged and participating) Explore-­‐ (Who wouldn’t want a maid that does every thing you ask her to?) Amelia Bedelia Books Compare the paragraph we read in class to the Amelia Bedelia books what do they have in common? Explain-­‐ Idioms are word combinations that are idiotic! Crazy! Nuts! etc.
1 In other words, idioms have meanings that can't be figured out by looking up the words in the dictionary. They have meanings that are understood by people who speak that language, but are very hard to understand for people who don't speak that language. Elaborate**watch video** (students will pick out a favorite idiom to illustrate) (6 min)
EvaluateRefer back to journal to see if students what students knew about idioms was accurate.
Show students the power point (write definition in their journal) and tell them that they
will be creating a poster of idioms
Can you figure out these idioms?
***Power point
Students will work in table groups and pick the best two illustrated idioms in their group
by majority vote to go on the poster (students will put the answer on the back)
Answers to the slide show
A Bad Taste in Your Mouth
Thank Heavens
In the Mood
Hold Up
2 Complete each idiom. If you're not sure of the correct
answer, make your best guess.
1.
Kevin didn't finish his homework. When the
teacher finds out, Kevin will be in hot
___________________.
2.
Mom and dad are all dressed up. They are going
out tonight and they will paint the town
___________________.
3.
Do you need help fixing the car? I'd be happy to
lend you a ___________________.
4.
I'm not sure how to solve this problem. Will you
help me think of some solutions? Two heads are
___________________ than one.
5.
It's after midnight and I am exhausted. I'm going
to brush my teeth and hit the ___________________.
6.
I'd like to get started on this project. Would you
please help me get the ball ___________________?
7.
Max's hamster is very old. I'm surprised it hasn't
kicked the ___________________ yet.
8.
I hear an annoying, slow dripping sound. The
sound is driving me up a ___________________.
3