Lesson+-+Horse+Idioms

LESSON TITLE: Horse Idioms
//This page provides an example of a lesson plan that could be used to introduce the idea of idioms.//


 * Subject**: English Language Arts
 * Grade**: 5th

· //Determine pronunciations and meanings of words, as well as alternate word choices and parts of speech, using dictionaries and thesauruses.//

 * 1.** **__Instructional (behavioral) objectives:__**

I expect the student to be able to interpret idioms using context clues in the sentence, and to be able to write using an idiom.


 * 2. __Formative Assessment:__**

I will assess informally as the students answer my questions and help figure the first two idioms out. I will also walk around the room as students are completing their worksheet to see how each one is doing.


 * 3. __Lesson Presentation__**

A. __**Materials necessary for today’s lesson:**__

Worksheet, Powerpoint, pictures

B. **__Motivational and Review Procedures:__**

(when students come in, have a picture on the screen of a horse with a cart in front of it)



C. **__Procedures to accomplish objectives:__**

‘Don’t put your cart before your horse’ is an example of an idiom. An ‘idiom’ is a word or phrase which means something different from what it says - it is usually a metaphor. Idioms are common phrases or terms whose meanings are not literal, but are figurative and only known through their common uses.

Idioms are usually developed in a time where they do have meaning and make sense to people. Over time though, people forget about where the idiom came from, but still use it. You don’t need to know the history of an idiom to understand it. You can usually figure it out from the context clues in the sentence. However, it can be interesting to learn about the history.

There are a lot of idioms about horses, and this is because horses used to be a big part of our lives. Before cars and machines, horses were used every day as transportation and for work. People were used to having horses around and so the idioms made sense to them.

(Show a picture of a horse pulling a cart) This is a horse pulling a cart. This is the normal way we see it.

(Show a picture of a cart in front of a horse) Does this look funny? What’s wrong with the picture? The cart is before the horse. What do you think it means? (get ideas from students)

What if in the morning, you got out of bed, and headed to school in your pajamas?! That would be doing things in the wrong order – you need to first get dressed and then come to school. This is an example of putting the cart before the horse. Does anyone else have an idea?

(Next, show a picture of a gift horse.) Let’s try another one. Here’s an example: “Johnny got a present that wasn’t what he really wanted most. When he complained to his mother, she said ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Be happy with what you got.’”

‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ is another idiom. What do you think it means? (collect ideas from students, direct their answers if needed)

‘Looking a gift horse in the mouth’ means to be ungrateful to someone who gives you something; or to treat someone who gives you a gift badly. So, we say: ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth.’

Does anyone think that’s a funny statement? Why? (get thoughts from students) You probably don’t normally look in horses’ mouths, so this may sound really strange. The reason for it, though, is that you can tell a horse’s age by looking at its teeth! In the days when everyone had horses, people would have known this. A horse is a really nice gift to get! But, they might have given it to you for free because it’s old and can’t be ridden anymore! Nevertheless, it’s rude to be ungrateful for a gift, no matter what it is.

I am going to give you a list of horse idioms. Read the sentence and try to figure out what the idiom means, then write the meaning on the line below it. See how much you can figure out!

Extender: Students can begin working on homework assignment.

D. **__Summary Statement:__**

Today we learned about idioms, which are phrases that mean something different than what they say.

E. **__Evaluation:__**

At the end, I will collect their worksheet on Horse Idioms. The next day, students will turn in their homework assignment on idioms.

F. **__Assignments__**

Complete Worksheet – [|Horse Idioms Worksheet.docx] Homework Assignment – [|Writing About Idioms.docx]