This site's daily puzzle may be appropriate as an exercise for middle school students and above and can be combined with the following 3 out of 3 exercise.

A Whole-Class Exercise

Display a puzzle to a whole class (via overhead projector, computer, or chalk board) and then ask students in turn to supply one of the defining words of the puzzle.

As the turn goes from student to student (with a time limit for each student to respond), the hidden words are discovered and a definition is slowly revealed.

The person who reveals or comes up with the last hidden word is the winner.

Skill and luck produce the winner.

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When the 3 out of 3 exercise is added, the winner is allowed to complete the final three parts if he or she can do so without error.

If an error is spotted by anyone (signaled by a raised hand and then after being recognized, pointing it out), the turn goes to the next player for a chance to complete the exercise and win the entire exercise.

If there's an error that hasn't been spotted when the class thinks the exercise has been completed, you can say "there is no winner yet because there is still an error." The student who spots the error (or errors) becomes the winner.

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The 3 out of 3 exercise begins after all hidden words have been discovered.

The last player continues the action by

(1) giving the key word's part of speech (which is revealed by the way the definition is worded), then

(2) using the word or term in a written sentence, and

(3) using correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar in the written sentence.

When correctly done, this earns the perfect score of 3 out of 3. And perhaps extra praise for a usage that communicates vividly the key word's meaning.

By using the the 3 out of 3 exercise, what started out as a phonetic word puzzle can end up as a spelling bee and a grammar lesson.

As you have probably figured out, the puzzle and the 3 out of 3 exercise can be given to the whole class at once with each student attempting to complete it on a sheet of paper. Papers can be exchanged and graded and returned to the owner and recognition can be given to all of those who solved the puzzle and more recognition for those who got 3 out of 3.

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Permission is given to use the 3 out of 3 exercise and the sound puzzles in classroom situations.

Copyright ©1997-2007 Marvin L Morrison