How to Make Compound Words

Compound words can be found on signs in your neighborhood.

It is not uncommon for teachers to begin instructing students in first grade on how to construct compound words. Compound words are simply the combining of two smaller words to make one larger word. Students need to understand that the newly formed compound word has a different meaning from the two words that were used to create it. Once children understand what a compound word is, they can begin making their own.

Things You'll Need

• Notebook
• Pencil
• List of words
• Note cards

Instructions

1. Teach the students what a compound word is by holding up the word "ear." Ask students to explain what the word means. Next, hold up the word "ring" and get the students to tell you the definition of that word. Finally, put the two words together and have the children read it. Show the students how the word "earring" has a different meaning from the two separate words.

2. Give the students each a sheet of paper with the words "flower," "basket," "eye," "sun" and "black" on one side, and the words "shine," "bird," "ball," "lid" and "pot" on the other. Tell the students to take one word from each list and put them together to make a new compound word.

3. Tell the students to look around the room and shout out any objects they find that are compound words. Students may come up with "notebook" or "blackboard." Have the students tell you which two small words make up the compound word.

4. Divide your students in half. Take out one note card for each student, and place a different small word on each. Hand one card to each student and then have the students find a partner who has a word that can be added to their word to create a compound word. For example, one student may have a card that says "art" while another student holds a card that says "work." When the two pair up, they have the new word "artwork."

Tips & Warnings

• If you have an uneven number of students, you will have to create a card with a small word on it for yourself. Wait for a student to come pair her word up with yours.

References

• Education: Compound Word Art

Resources

• Jan Brett: Compound Words
• Enchanted Learning: Compound Words