Anagrams

Grade Levels: 3 - 5

Overview

Students use a Web resource to transform their names into many variations. Then they write a story about the variation they select.

Objective

Students will practice story writing with an emphasis on descriptive language and character portrayal.

Materials

Anagram Worksheet

Procedure

1. Tell students they are going to use the Internet to transform their names and even their identities! Ask them if they know what an anagram is (a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase). Give them these examples of successful anagrams. Discuss how these anagrams enhance the meaning of the original word or phrase.
   
   Butterfly
   Flutter by
   
   A gentleman
   Elegant man
   
   Clint Eastwood
   Old west action
   
   Vacation times
   I'm not as active
   
2. Let students practice making anagrams by using a simple word such as "lemon" (melon, no elm) and a more challenging phrase such as "the story" (Shy otter, They sort). Discuss how these anagrams change the meaning of the original word or phrase.
   
   
3. Go online to the Internet Anagram Server website and enter the phrase "the story," click on "Get anagrams" and compare the results with students' offline anagrams. (Note: The anagram server just supplies words. Phrases may have to be re-ordered to make sense, and some will not make sense. It also uses proper names. Although it does not use any vulgar language, it may occasionally produce a word that you feel is too mature for your students.)
   
   
4. Explain to students that they will be entering their first and last names in the space following "Find anagrams for." Tell them not to use uppercase letters. For example, Jane Smith would appear as jane smith.
   
   
5. Once they have found all the anagrams for their names, have students select their favorite one as their new name. (You may wish to print out the results.) Distribute the Anagram Worksheet. Have students use the form to write a story.
   
   
6. Remind students to use descriptive language to make their stories interesting and vivid, and to reveal character through direct statements as well as the character's actions, thoughts, or words.
   
   
7. Encourage students to share their completed stories in small groups. They might enjoy first stacking the stories and exchanging them anonymously to see whether group members can identify each student's original name.
   
   

Home Connection

Encourage students to bring their stories home. If their families have a computer that is connected to the Internet, they can show family members the Internet Anagram Server site and use it to find anagrams for the names of other family members.

Extensions

• Explore other Creative Writing ideas and lessons.
• Students might enjoy clicking on "Odds 'n Ends" to learn some trivia about anagrams and also on the "Hall of Fame" to read some amusing anagrams. Interested students might like to get anagrams for other words and word groups and use them to make riddles.

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