VOCABULARY
CENTER
Synonym Riddles
Description:
Students play with word meanings by writing
riddles related to pairs of words.
Materials
Riddle books
Student directions (page 184)
Synonym Riddles Planning Sheets (page 185)
Dictionary, thesaurus, and rhyming dictionary
Procedures for Teaching
VOC ABU LARY
1. Display several riddle books and share some
CENT ER
Synonym Ri
ddles
What to Do
riddles with students.
1. Think of
two word
something fami s that rhyme and describe
liar to you.
What
You NE ED
Example: large
barge
Write them
on the lines
of the Synonym
Planning Shee
Ridd
t.
2. Model the process for creating rhymes
Dictionary
les
2. Now thin
k of a synonym
for each word
synonym is
.A
a word that
means the same
can use a dicti
thing. You
onar y or thesa
urus to help
a synonym if
you find
you cannot thin
synonyms on
k
the lines of the of one. Write your
planning shee
t.
Example: huge
boat
3. Use your
synonyms to
fill in the blan
and complete
ks
the sentence:
What do you
call a/an ____
_____ ____
_____?
The answer
to your ridd
le is your origi
nal two word
4. When you
s.
have fi
or riddle book nished your riddle, creat
e a poster
to share with
others.
called “Hink Pinks” using the Synonym
Riddles Planning Sheet.
3. To create a Hink-Pink riddle, start by
identifying two rhyming words, such as
small and ball.
To think of a
rhyming word
, try a trick that
use. Go throu
some poets
gh the alphabet
, substituting
in place of the
each letter
first letter of
your word. You
pairs like sw,
can try lette
br, and tr.
r
Thesaurus
Synonym
Riddles
Planning Shee
t
Pencil or pen
Hint!
Hint!
184
Fresh Takes on
4. Suggest a synonym for each word—for
example, tiny and sphere. Model using a
thesaurus or dictionary, if necessary.
5. Insert the synonyms into the question:
“What do you call a/an
?” The answer is, of course,
the rhyming pair.
words and have them create a riddle.
Comprehension
© 2010 by Mary
Beth Allen. Scholas
tic Teaching Resourc
es
Date
Name
VOCABU LARY CENTER
ning Sheet
Synonym Riddles Plan
Step 1: Write two words that
rhyme:
Step 2: Write a synonym for
each word:
Step 3: Fill in the blanks to
this question with the synonym
s from Step 2:
?
What do you call a/an
Step 4:
your original two
Write the answer (using
words):
!
Date
Name
VOCABU LARY CENTER
6. Give students another pair of rhyming
Centers: Reading
ning Sheet
Synonym Riddles Plan
Step 1: Write two words that
rhyme:
Step 2: Write a synonym for
each word:
Step 3: Fill in the blanks to
this question with the synonym
s from Step 2:
?
What do you call a/an
Step 4: Write
Fresh Takes on Centers: Reading
two words):
the answer (using your original
Comprehension © 2010 by
182
Fresh Takes on Centers: Reading Comprehension © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
!
Mary Beth Allen. Scholastic
Teaching Resources
185
7. In pairs or small groups, have students create another example and share
VOCABULARY
CENTER
with the class. Provide support with generating rhyming word pairs and
synonyms, as needed.
8. For independent practice, have students use the Synonym Riddles Planning
Sheets at the center to create new riddles, then make posters or riddle
books for others to enjoy.
How to Make a “Layer” Book
Teaching
TIP
1. Stack several sheets of paper
together and position them
vertically. Beginning with the
second to last sheet, slide each
sheet up and away from the one
below by about one inch.
“Layer” books make
excellent vehicles for
publishing students’
riddle books (see left).
2. Holding the paper securely, fold
the top down toward the opposite
end, and stop about an inch from
the first sheet.
3. Crease at the fold and staple
to bind.
Suggestions for Differentiated Learning
Provide More Support
Provide sets of rhyming words.
Have students generate
synonyms to create the riddle.
Provide completed riddles and
sets of rhyming words. Have
students locate the answers to
the riddles.
Provide More Challenge
Use multisyllabic words
(such as funny bunny).
Use other types of word
pairs, such as homonyms
(sail and sale) and oxymorons
(large shrimp).
183
Fresh Takes on Centers: Reading Comprehension © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
VOCABULARY CENTER
Synonym Riddles
What to Do
1. Think of two words that rhyme and describe
something familiar to you.
What
You NEED
Example: large barge
Dictionary
Write them on the lines of the Synonym Riddles
Planning Sheet.
2. Now think of a synonym for each word. A
synonym is a word that means the same thing. You
can use a dictionary or thesaurus to help you find
a synonym if you cannot think of one. Write your
synonyms on the lines of the planning sheet.
Thesaurus
Synonym
Riddles
Planning Sheet
Pencil or pen
Example: huge boat
3. Use your synonyms to fill in the blanks
and complete the sentence:
What do you call a/an _________ _________?
The answer to your riddle is your original two words.
4. When you have finished your riddle, create a poster
or riddle book to share with others.
To think of a rhyming word, try a trick that some poets
use. Go through the alphabet, substituting each letter
in place of the first letter of your word. You can try letter
pairs like sw, br, and tr.
Hint!
Hint!
184
Fresh Takes on Centers: Reading Comprehension © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
VOCABULARY CENTER
Name
Date
Synonym Riddles Planning Sheet
Step 1: Write two words that rhyme:
Step 2: Write a synonym for each word:
Step 3: Fill in the blanks to this question with the synonyms from Step 2:
?
What do you call a/an
Step 4: Write the answer (using your original two words):
!
VOCABULARY CENTER
Name
Date
Synonym Riddles Planning Sheet
Step 1: Write two words that rhyme:
Step 2: Write a synonym for each word:
Step 3: Fill in the blanks to this question with the synonyms from Step 2:
?
What do you call a/an
Step 4: Write the answer (using your original two words):
!
185
Fresh Takes on Centers: Reading Comprehension © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources