1. The Pen is mightier than the sword
Powerful Words
The Pen is mightier than the sword

2. Lots of jokes are based upon word play…
Words are fun!
Lots of jokes are based upon word play…
The man who recently fell into an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.

3. Activity
Give students:Water, Play dough, a choice of 3 items from their desk.
Have them brainstorm words that relate.
Water Tray:
pour, splash, drip, wet, full, empty, overflowing…
Playdough:
stretch, break, squash, mould, join, cut, press…
Displays of vocabulary around the room are useful prompts for the adults that are supporting the children.
The handout contains lists of vocabulary to support speaking and listening in the areas of provision.

4. Words are fun!
I couldn't quite remember how to throw a boomerang, but I knew eventually it would come back to me.

5. Children love to collect or make up jokes.
It’s a crack up!
Joke web site:
Children love to collect or make up jokes.
Encourage their understanding of words by asking them to explain why it’s funny.
Silly word joke -
Q:What’s the difference between unlawful and illegal?
A: One is against the law and the other’s a sick bird!
Rxplain why this is funny – illegal = ill eagle
Ask the participants to choose a joke from the selection on page 6.
Explain to a partner why the joke is funny.
Take feedback.

6. ‘Articulate’ Take a noun from the pile on the table.
Describe it to your partner without naming it. Use descriptive language to help your partner visualise what you are describing.
Can your partner guess what it is?
Give out the word cards and play the game as described on the slide.
The words used in the session as reproduced in the handout on page 7.

7. look Synonym Race You have thirty seconds.
Think of as many alternative words as you can for…
look
ACTIVITY
Give the participants 30 seconds to brainstorm as many synonyms as possible for ‘look’ on their whiteboard.
Take feedback and list on a flipchart.
Could extend this by asking children to choose a word and act it out. Can others guess which word it is?

8. Talking verbs
Working in pairs, make a list of alternative words for ‘said’.
Write your words onto your paper.
Think of a simple sentence that someone might say, e.g. ‘Where have I put my glasses?’
Take it in turns to choose a word from the list and say the sentence accordingly. Can the other person guess which word was chosen?
From: Jumpstart! Literacy by Pie Corbett
Carry out the activity, following the instructions on the slide.

9. The POWER of words! big huge colossal
Quite often, synonyms can be ordered by how powerful they are, e.g.
big huge colossal
Order the cards according to how powerful you think the words are.
Give out the cards to several of the participants. Ask them to stand at the front and display their word. Can they get themselves into order of power? There are eight cards – two sets of four.
Encourage discussion about what the words mean to the participants and why they want to order them in a particular way.
There is not always a correct order in this type of activity because the shades of meaning can be very subtle, or can have a slightly different meaning.
The words are reproduced in the handout on page 9.

10. Shades of meaning Start with a feelings word from the list.
Choose a colour card.
Brainstorm synonyms for your feelings word.
Write the synonyms onto the colour card in order of strength.
ACTIVITY
Give out the colour cards and follow the on-screen instructions.
Take feedback.

11. He didn't tell his mother that he had eaten the glue.
Words are fun!
He didn't tell his mother that he had eaten the glue.
His lips were sealed.

12. Crazy Definitions Lots of dancing cakes Abundance
Think of definitions for these:
Armies
Earwig
Elastic band
Fish Fingers
Gladiator
Hippies
Labrador
Microwave
The things you have up your sleevies
A piece of false hair worn over the ears
A group who play rubber instruments
What fish have 5 of on each hand
How the monster felt after lunch
The things you hang your leggies on
Large cat-flap for dogs
Very small greeting
This is a very similar activity to the previous one so it might be one to just tell the participants about, rather than actually play it. If you wish to play, the list of words is reproduced on page 11 of the handout.
In this game, you make up alternative definitions for existing words.
The slide comes up in stages on each ‘click’. Be aware that the participants have the complete slide on their handout.

13. Words are fun!
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.'

14. Choose a picture Discuss Brainstorm Write Words that describe. Display
Discuss again
Add more words

15. Super settings As fresh as a mountain stream fresh rocky lush cool
The sea was a shimmering plate of glass.
clear
lapping
This scene has been annotated with descriptive words, a simile and a metaphor.
Use the scene on the next slide for participants to complete the same activity. The image on the next slide is reproduced in the handout.
smooth

16. What did the triangle say
Words are fun!
What did the triangle say
to the circle?
You're so pointless!
One for the maths enthusiasts!

17. Silently, slowly, easily, Slipping, sliding, slithering, disappearing.
Fast poem
One noun:
Two adjectives:
Three adverbs:
Four verbs:
Spaghetti
Thin and soft,
Silently, slowly, easily,
Slipping, sliding, slithering, disappearing.
This game helps children think about using adjectives, adverbs and verbs effectively to create a mini-poem.
This activity could be a whole-class, group, paired or individual activity.
Ask participants to think of their favourite food, and use that as the first noun, e.g. spaghetti.
Give participants time to create their own poem, individually or in pairs.
Read out some examples.

18. Words are fun! Are Santa's helpers subordinate clauses?
One for the English enthusiasts.

19. Resources
Primary Framework for literacy
Jokes found at
Jumpstart! Literacy by Pie Corbett
ISBN
The Usbourne Illustrated Thesaurus
ISBN