Figurative Language and a wordle

I have one completed project and one in-the-making project especially for Open House/end-of-year.  One I found on http://working4theclassroom.blogspot.com/2012/04/open-house-pizzazz-project-2.html (and check out the anchor charts there!) and the other came from wordle.net.

The All About Me project is my in-progress activity.  The students are currently writing their autobiographies.  Next week they'll start working on defining synonyms/antonyms, idioms, similes, metaphors, character traits, and theme, and choosing words/phrases that define themselves.  This is a two-fer activity...review of figurative language and something nice to share at Open House.  It's also a good vehicle for some self-esteem building. In the interest of time (and because I'll be out four of the next nine school days to meetings) I did all the cutting of paper and writing on all the outside flaps.  Normally I wouldn't do that for fifth graders, but it's a crazy time right now.  I hate trying to explain what is swirling around in my brain to a substitute via sub plans.  

The other end-of-year activity was completed in the computer lab.  Before we went, I passed out copies of character traits lists to the students.  We crossed off all of the negative traits and penciled in names of classmates who epitomized the positive traits.  They took their lists with them to the computer lab where they went to www.wordle.net and typed in their own name twice (to make their names the biggest word).  Then they stood up, tucked in their chairs and moved one seat to the right.  They found the classmate's name on their trait list and typed it in, and then moved to the right.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  It was like speed dating with character traits.  They enjoyed it and now the students each have an 8x10 wordle of what their classmates think of them.  The computer teacher only had to go back and erase "hot" and "sexy" for one student. Fifth graders and their hormones.  Such a joy.  I am going to the dollar store to see about getting picture frames for the wordles.  I think it'll be a nice keepsake.  As I type this, it might not be a bad activity to do after the first month of school or so.  The kids will have a chance to get to know the new students, and they'll have a nice, positive start to the year.  Three more weeks of school, two more weeks until Open House.  Not that I'm counting!