MENU
 Activity Snapshot
National Standards Correlations
How to Use this Game
Extensions
Assessment
Resources
Riddle Answer Keys
|
Activity Snapshot
Meet Annie, our wizard of words, as she poses a new riddle seven days a week. Students read the riddle, then come up with a two–word answer in which both words rhyme exactly, even down to the number of syllables. Encourage your students to use the dictionary and thesaurus to help find the answers.
Looking for a way to make vocabulary lessons exciting? Check the Riddle Answer Keys to match the riddles to words on your vocabulary lists. Or invite your students to create and send in original rhyming riddles using vocabulary words. If Annie likes the riddle, it will be published online for students nationwide.
For more information on how to play Annie's Rhyme Time, be sure to check out How to Use This Game below.
Learning Objectives
By participating in Annie's Rhyme Time, students will:
- build vocabulary
- exercise critical–thinking skills
- practice phonemic awareness
- use reference tools such as a dictionary and thesaurus
- use interactive online forms
Time Required
The time required for this game varies depending on which activity you or your students select to play. For example, responding to the daily riddle may take only ten minutes or less, while playing an entire set of riddles based on your vocabulary lists or sending in an original riddle could take up to half an hour or more.
Top of Page
National Standards Correlations
Annie's Rhyme Time helps students meet the following standards for English and language arts as set forth by the National Council for Teachers of English:
- Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions, media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non–print texts (6).
- Students use a variety of technological and informational resources to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge (8).
- Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information. (12).
Top of Page
How to Use This Game
In addition to the daily riddle, Annie challenges your students to grade–appropriate riddles of her choice. Sometimes she will present students with her own riddles, and other times she will include riddles submitted by kids. If you don't like the riddle presented, click "Skip this Riddle" for another. Or, if you're curious to sneak a peek at the answer, just click "Submit". Is the riddle too hard or too easy? Simply choose a different level by clicking "Easy" (for grades 1 – 2), "Medium" (for grades 3 – 5), or "Hard" (for grades 6 – 8).
Kids' Riddles
Students also have the option of playing riddles contributed by kids. To play a riddle in the list, just click it and it will appear in the game format.
Riddle Index
To see a complete list of all the riddles in a level, select Riddle Index. From here, students can select the specific riddles they want to play.
Send Your Riddle
Annie invites your students to send in creative rhyming riddles of their own for possible online publication. Remind your class that the riddles must have a two–word answer in which both words rhyme exactly, even down to the number of syllables. To send a riddle, students fill in an online form and click "Submit". Annie will evaluate the riddle and either accept or reject it. If it is accepted, students will find it within a few days in Kids' Riddles. If students include their e–mail address in the online form, and their riddle is accepted, Annie will send them an e–mail notifying them of its publication online.
Riddle Answer Keys
You can find the Riddle Answer Keys for each ability level in the Teacher's Guide. Use the Answer Key search function to find riddles or riddle answers that match your vocabulary list. To play a riddle, just click it.
Top of Page
Extensions
- Use the answers to Annie's riddles and answers as the basis for a poetry writing activity. For instance, if the answer is "lazy daisy," have student make up a poem about a lazy daisy.
- Give students a word and challenge them to come up with as many rhyming words as they can without using a dictionary. This can be done individually, in small groups, or as a whole class.
Top of Page
Assessment
Annie's Rhyme Time provides immediate response to students by comparing their answers to the ones Annie (or the student riddle author) was thinking of. In addition, you may want to try these informal assessment techniques to evaluate your students:
- To assess vocabulary growth, invite students to create a poster of new words and their definitions learned from playing Annie's Rhyme Time.
- To assess critical–thinking strategies, ask students to circle the "clue words" they used to solve Annie's Rhyme Time riddles. Or have students explain verbally how they came up with their solutions based on the clues provided in the riddles.
- To assess vocabulary comprehension, ask students to create Rhyme Time riddles using current vocabulary words. Then have students submit their riddles for possible online publication by using "Send Your Riddle."
- To assess phonemic awareness, ask students to create or solve Rhyme Time riddles using two words with different spellings for the same sounds. (e.g., What could you call a snack? A light bite.)
Top of Page
Resources
The following Scholastic supplemental materials could be used in conjunction with Annie's Rhyme Time:
- The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary, by Sue Young, a kid–friendly source of rhymes organized by vowel sounds and final syllables. (Processing # RTB96393)
- Once Upon a Time in Rhyme: 28 Folk and Fairy Tale Poems and Songs, by Meish Goldish, a book of songs and chants about kids' favorite fairy tales and fables. (Processing # WFM48801–5)
- Quick Poetry Activities, by Jacqueline Sweeney, a practical guide to helping students try their hand at poetry. (Processing # WFM49767–7)
- Quick–and–Easy Learning Centers: Word Play, by Mary Beth Spann, shows how to create hands–on centers for students to build language skills. (Processing # WFM53552–8)
More complete descriptions of these resources can be found in Scholastic's Professional Books catalog, with the exception of The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary, which can be found in the Scholastic Supplemental catalog.
Software programs to supplement Annie's Rhyme Time:
- Bailey's Book House, by Edmark Co. For grades K–2, includes sections on rhyming.
- KidPhonics, by Davidson Co. For grades K – 2, helps tune young students in to sounds of letters and words.
|
