LESSON 3
CHAINS

Scratchboard Chain Stories

1. Choose an appropriate topic or theme for the vocabulary game and scratchboards. The topic can relate to previous work completed in class or a theme of an upcoming activity, but make sure that the topic chosen relates to a vocabulary domain that you would like students to learn and uses words that are appropriate for their level. Possible vocabulary topics for this activity may include:
   Food {pasta, apple, pizza, noodles, etc.}
   Weather {sun, clouds, rain, snow, hail, etc.}
   Sports {basketball, soccer, polo, swimming, etc.}
   Hobbies {photography, sewing, playing the guitar, jewelry making, etc.}
2. Have students form groups of six people. (Groups can be larger or smaller depending on the size of your class.) Tell groups to sit in a circle facing each other.
3. Find or bring in items that groups can use to pass around the circle: stuffed animals, for example, or classroom items like a stapler or chalkboard eraser.
4. Tell students the vocabulary domain or topic for the game.
5. When you say, “Go,” students should begin passing the item around the circle. Tell students that when “Stop” is called, the student who has the item in his or her hands has to then name six vocabulary words from the topic you specified at the beginning of the game. While the student names those words, he or she must pass the item around the circle again. He or she has until the item gets back around to name six things from the vocabulary topic.
6. The game then starts again. Students keep passing the item until you say “Stop.” The new student who is holding the item now has to name six vocabulary words in the topic before the item gets back around to him or her. He or she cannot repeat any vocabulary words that have already been said.

1. Pass out a white sheet of paper and crayons to students.
2. Have students write their names with pencil on the back of the paper.
3. Tell students to fill the entire space of the paper with crayon shapes, patterns, and designs. No space on the paper should be left blank. The darker the color is applied the better it will show up on the scratchboard. See the example for this step below.
   
   Scratchboard design without paint
4. Once students have filled in the entire space of their paper with crayon designs, tell students to paint over the crayon with black tempera paint. Students should cover the entire surface of the paper with paint. *TIP: Add a small amount of liquid dish soap to the tempera paint so that it will stick to the crayon wax.
5. Have students put their papers somewhere safe to dry.

1. Remind students of the vocabulary topic used in the “Name Six” vocabulary game. Tell students to choose something from that category to draw on their scratchboard. For instance, if the topic was food, students could draw a pasta dish, an apple, a slice of pizza, or perhaps a bowl of noodles. Students should have a number of ideas to choose from after playing the vocabulary game. If needed, refresh students’ memories by asking them to name words said in the game.
2. To draw on the scratchboard, students will need a pointed object to scratch away the top layer of paint. Various materials can be used for this, including bent paperclips, toothpicks, chopsticks, sticks, or wood skewers.
   *TIP: Wood skewers that are traditionally used for cooking work well for this activity. They are long so that students can hold them like a pencil when they draw.
3. When students press the tool on the surface of the scratchboard, the mark will scratch the black paint away, revealing the color from the crayon underneath.
4. Tell students to scratch out their drawing carefully because they cannot “erase”: once the paint is scratched away it cannot be replaced.
5. Give students time to finish their drawings on the assigned topic.

1. Once students have finished their scratchboards, have students display their artwork together on a wall or board in the classroom.
2. Have students look at the scratchboard artwork and say the vocabulary word the artwork demonstrates.
3. Compile a list of the vocabulary words on the board.
4. Emphasize to students that the collection of words all belong to a related group or category.
5. Discuss any confusing words or meanings with students.
6. If your class is small, and you have a short list of words, add additional words to the vocabulary list on the board.
7. Break students into groups of three or four.
8. Tell students each group must create a chain story that uses every vocabulary word listed on the board.
9. One member in the group should start the story, saying a sentence or part of a sentence that contains a vocabulary word. The next person in the group then continues the story, finishing the sentence, adding to the sentence, or starting a new sentence with another vocabulary word. Each group member should contribute to the story until the story reaches an end and all of the vocabulary words from the board are used.
10. If there is enough time, have students do the activity again, creating a different chain story that utilizes the same vocabulary words.
11. Ask for groups to volunteer to re-tell their stories and share them with the class.

1. Have students write a vocabulary word poem as a closing activity. Students can work alone, with a partner, or in a small group.
2. Students select one of the vocabulary words from the list to use for their word poem.
3. Students should then write the word vertically, along the column of their papers.
4. Tell students to then write a word, phrase, or sentence for each letter of the word poem (choose an appropriate option depending on students’ level). See the example on the next page.
5. Have students share their word poems with the class.
   Example Word Poem:
   Noodles are my favorite food.
   Oh, they’re so delicious!
   On a cold day, hot noodles make me warm.
   Don’t ask me to share my noodles, because I won’t!
   Little noodles or big noodles, I like them all.
   Every time my grandma makes noodles, I’m so happy!
   Slurp, slurp, slurp… I ate every last bite!