C RITICAL THINKING SKILLS Absurdities A TEACHING RESOURCE FROM... REM 201C AUTHOR / ILLUSTRATOR Ellie Weiler 1983, 1997, 2001 Copyright by Remedia Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. The purchase of this unit entitles the individual teacher to reproduce copies for classroom use. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. To find Remedia products in a store near you, visit: http://www.rempub.com/stores REMEDIA PUBLICATIONS, INC. 15887 N. 76 TH STREET SUITE 120 SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260 30
INTRODUCTION Introducing children to absurdities serves two purposes - both essential in effective problem-solving and decision-making. First, it helps them become more aware of the need to analyze the logic and apply common sense reasoning to communication. As they do this, their skill in making judgments and finding solutions increases. Second, it helps them begin to recognize absurdity as being a key component of humor. Research offers strong evidence of the value of humor as an important tool for emotional balance, intellectual growth, and even physical well being. Used properly, it can turn the reluctant learner into an eager student. You will find this book to be an effective teaching tool for many ages and readability levels. Based on Bloom s Taxonomy of thinking skills, it is suitable for use in grades 3-6. Readability is approximately at the 3 rd -4 th grade level. (Keep in mind that readability scales, though useful, are guidelines only. They cannot measure every factor affecting readability, such as sentence structure or appeal to the reader. Also, scales can differ from each other in the results they yield). A pre/post test is included at the end of the book to evaluate students progress. All activities are reproducible for use in a variety of teaching, practice, and reinforcement situations. They are appropriate for whole class, small group, or individual use. Oral discussion of the work as it is completed will increase the level of student understanding. THE CRITICAL THINKING SERIES FROM REMEDIA PUBLICATIONS 201A... Analogies 201B... Classification 201C...Absurdities 201D... Similarities & Differences 201E... Sequence 202A... Drawing Solutions 202B... Using Logic 202C... Finding Facts 202D... Following Directions 202E... Relying on Reason 203A... Knowledge 203B... Comprehension 203C...Application 203D... Analysis 203E... Synthesis 203F... Evaluation Absurdities 30 Remedia Publications
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We find absurdity used in tall tales. One well-known story is that of Paul Bunyan. He was so tall he could step over a whole forest. Do you think a man could really be that tall? This kind of absurdity is known as exaggeration. Turn your imagination loose with some really absurd exaggerations to finish each of the sentences below. Remedia Publications 19 Absurdities
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How many times have you been asked to tell all about yourself? Well here s one more time but it s a little different. Finish the sentences in an absurd way. Remedia Publications 25 Absurdities
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Pre/Post Test Remedia Publications 29 Absurdities
Answer Key Note to the teacher: The answers given below, in many cases, are suggested answers. Teacher should accept any answer which student can justify. PRE/POST TEST: X boxes 1, 2, and 4. 5-A, 7-A, 8-A,10-A, 11-A,13-A,14-A,16-A,17-A,18-A,19-A PG 1: PG 2: First sentence is absurd because dogs can t talk; Second sentence is not absurd because a man can be six feet tall; the third sentence is absurd because people do not grow to be 26 feet tall. Sentence completion will vary but one sentence should be absurd and the other possible. 1) 72 hot dogs 2) lift our car 3) 1 mile long, bigger than our boat 4) catch elephants, sing a song cat s head on bird, lion hanging by tail, monkey s tail in 2 pieces, dog s head on giraffe, gorilla standing with people, monkey sign on elephant cage, tree in 2 pieces, rabbit head on alligator s body, woman has only one leg, girl has pants on one leg, skirt on the other, Zoo is misspelled on sign PG 13: PG 14: PG 15: PG 16: PG 17: had so much stuff, he decided to go by himself; knew the desert would be cold; packed his swimsuit; third of May; microscope; on her nest; keeping her eggs warm; fresh vegetables; hatched; striped fur; swim; write a picture Pictures will vary. boxing, archery, canoeing, auto racing, fishing, golf, weight lifting, scuba diving, skiing, hockey, ice skating, tennis, football, baseball, roller skating, basketball, pole vaulting, bowling, pool Answers will vary, but should be absurd. Down: 1) trees 3) car 5) elf 6) paste 7) soap 8) drill 9) crying Across: 1) trip 2) flew 3) clouds 4) play PG 18~28: Answers will vary. PG 3: PG 4: PG 5: PG 6: PG 7: PG 8: PG 9: PG 10: PG 11: PG 12: 1) boy/girl 2) tree 3) cat 4) smile 5) teeth 6) moon 7) afternoon 8) down 9) spoon 10) eat 11) refrigerator 12) limped/walked 13) burned 14) arm/leg 1) surfing/skiing or skis/surfboard 2) put them on/took them off 3) story/picture 4) Christmas/Halloween 5) telephone /television 6) feathers/fur or dog/duck 7) dripped/dropped 8) married/caught or chased 9) cactus/chair 10) skated/jumped or grasshopper/ boy, girl 11) car/boat 12) blew/wrote or letter/kiss 13) hello/goodbye 14) turtle/rabbit or ran quickly/ moved slowly 1) turned the TV down low 2) oven was on or ready 3) put on snowsuits or change snowing to raining 4) change Maggie to she 5) change glasses to hearing aid 1) go 2) jelly 3) puppy 4) straight 5) read 6) dress 7) mice 8) crown 9) letter 10) milk Answers will vary, but should be absurd. Answers will vary but first should be absurd, the second should make sense. Answers will vary, but should make sense. 1) pancake 2) kitten 3) snow 4) pin 5) ice 6) lamb 7) sugar 8) bee 9) an ox 10) a feather 11) picture 12) wink 1) roosters /flowers 2) hall/hole 3) shape/ship 4) beams/beans 5) see/hear 6) grass/glass 7) leaking/ringing 8) witch/watch 9) mouth/month 10) lion/line 11) storm/store 12) sacks/socks 13) mess/dress 14) poodle/puddle 1) didn t like/liked 2) little, tiny/great, big 3) sports/ comic 4) refrigerator/door 5) froze/melted Remedia Publications 31 Absurdities