Hunting the Uncommon

Understanding vocabulary in a content area is important for the student to comprehend the ideas and concepts being taught. I found this exercise in a book I have recently read and thought that it was a great idea. The following is and example.

Hide and Hair

Hides were man's first clothes. Eventually he learned to weave the hair from hide into warm garments and coverings. Six products of hide or hair are defined below. Guess the words and the proper names that are their source.

1 & 2 Two curly or wavy furs, comparable in desirability,made from the skins of young lambs.

3. fine, downy wool growing beneath the outer hair of a Himalayan goat.

4. A soft, highly prized leather of goatskin tanned with sumac.

5. The skin of a sheep or goat, prepared for writing upon; paper made in imitation of this material.

6. Leather with a soft napped surface.

This is a fun way to introduce new vocabulary.