Words Matter
Acrostic Puzzle: Lesson Plan Promoting
Women Authors and Their Books.
Objective:
This lesson plan is focused on emphasizing that words matter by highlighting
noteworthy female authors to help reinforce the importance of reading and writing.
The goal of the lesson plan is to support educators by using a fun and interactive
instructional format that will engage students. This format also encourages the use
of technology as we have provided a bonus activity to promote reading and writing
through the use of social media. You may use the suggestions we have provided
below, or in conjunction with lessons that you are currently integrating into your
classroom instruction.
Introduction:
We are asking students to think analytically about the impact of words and their
relationship to both classic and modern literary pieces written by female authors in hopes that they will be inspired
to read one of the books highlighted.
• Students must research hints provided to find the names of the authors based on relevant details from
the actual book to answer the acrostic.
• When solved, these hints will uncover a quote that highlights the significance and impact on words and
what we write.
Bell Ringer Activity:
1.
Think-Pair-Share: Students will work in pairs and share their favorite author and book with their partner.
The goal will be for students to formulate (in one sentence) why their favorite book is a must read for others.
2.
Group Activity: Students brainstorm for two minutes to see how many female authors they can think of and the titles of their books. (No use of internet). This should be from current knowledge only. (Remind students
that March is Women in History Month, thus the focus on female authors.)
Acrostic Activity
Students will work in pairs or teams to complete the acrostic puzzle. Students may use internet to search for
correct answers.
Supporting Social Media Activity
Students will participate weekly in an additional trivia question to complete the ancillary puzzle (included on the
bottom left hand corner of the acrostic puzzle). Once the trivia answers are completed, the emphasized letters
will spell out the name of a strong female character in one of the books from the acrostic puzzle.
Additional Instructional Activities
A Book in Six Words:
1.Teacher will use the A Book in Six Words black line master included in the March Hello Box to create copies for students OR just have students complete the activity on index cards or notebook paper. Students will select one of the highlighted authors from the acrostic they have read or another author of a book they have read to complete the A Book in Six Words template.
2.Once students have completed their template, they will be paired up and partners will exchange the cards. Each partner will try to use synonyms to change, update or improve the words previously used by
their partner, thus increasing exposure to words and broadening the student vocabulary.
3.Students will be given back their card with the suggested edits. The students will now finalize their Book in Six Words to share with their classmates.
4.Students can share their book and author and their cards with the class.
5.Students can ask questions about the book and a dialogue can ensue.
6.After the acrostic puzzle is completed, the teacher could use the revealed quote as inspiration for a writing
assignment or discussion.
Additional Opportunities
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Have a contest between English or literature classes to see which class can complete the acrostic
puzzle first.
Display the completed A Book in Six Words cards in the library for all students to view.
Have students select a few of the cards from the class to share with the student population through
announcements—submit a special request for an announcement to be added each day during the month of March focused on Words Matter and highlighting a female author.
Students can share their cards using social media (post a photo of the card at #WordsMatter).
Have the student write a letter to their author and ask 3-5 questions the student creates about the author
and the motivation behind why the book was written.
Invite an author to come to the class to speak to the students.
Have students create a visual about their book, author and incorporate only the six words in the visual.
This visual could be on poster board or could be distributed through the use of technology.
Common Core Standards
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CCSS.ELA–Literacy.W.11–12.5
CCSS.ELA–Literacy.L.11–12.1b
CCSS.ELA–Literacy.W.11–12.3d
CCSS.ELA–Literacy.W.11–12.5
CCSS.ELA–Literacy.W.11–12.6
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