Lesson 1: BLORK and BLuuRF – Nonsense words and alliteration as connotation
Learning Intention: Students are learning to explore how creative language techniques are used in texts to appeal to the reader and enhance enjoyment.
Success Criteria:
Students can:
identify how nonsense words are used in a text to enhance enjoyment
identify how silly sentences are used represent things in a text
create a sentence using a noun and a verb
explore how onomatopoeia is used to describe sounds
use wordplay to create a class poem.
Do you think that a book without pictures will be exciting or interesting, or boring?
When reading books with no pictures, readers need to listen carefully to the author’s words. The way the words are written and spoken help readers to see or imagine pictures in their heads. This is also called visualising.
How did you feel when listening to the story? What made you feel that way?
Authors use different techniques or strategies when creating texts to make readers feel a particular way.
Re-read sections of the text that contain nonsense words. Highlight how silly ideas and nonsense words, like ‘BLORK’, ‘BluuRF’ and ‘ma GRUMPH-a-doo’ were used. Discuss the difference between real words and nonsense words. Nonsense words are used in a text to enhance enjoyment i.e. make you laugh.
Now, the author uses a wordplay technique called alliteration to create feelings of fun. Say the words ‘BLORK’ and ‘BluuRF’. Other examples of alliteration in the book such as ‘boo butt’.
Think-Pair-Share: students create a spoken sentence that uses nonsense words and alliteration, for example, ‘beeb butt bites biscuits’
Draw, Talk, Write, Share
What is a ‘BLORK’ and a ‘BluuRF’?
Students create a ‘BLORK’ or ‘BluuRF’ and write alliterative nonsense words around their creation from the nonsense word bank. These could be the words that a ‘BLORK’ or ‘BluuRF’ would say. Encourage students’ sense of fun with wordplay through choral reading of their word creations.