Abbreviations and Acronyms

Grade Level: 4 - 6

Objective:

To help students understand the purpose and meaning of common abbreviations and acronyms in a newspaper

Grade Level: 4-6

Materials: Newspapers, Worksheet F

Procedures:

To Start

Ask students to explain what abbreviations are and why we use them (to save space, to avoid writing out a word used repeatedly, and so on). Have students name some familiar abbreviations. List examples on the board.

Give each student a newspaper. Ask: Who can find an abbreviation first? Students should identify the word the abbreviation represents. (Teachers also might want to note that, as a general rule, newspapers only refer to something by initials after it has been written out once in a story. However, in a case of a well known or often used item, such as the U.S., the abbreviation may appear without the written out definition.

Group Activity

Have students turn to the newspaper's classified pages. Explain that there are probably more abbreviations here than anywhere else in the newspaper because advertisers save money by saving space. Point out a few examples.

Hand out Worksheet F. Students should find each abbreviation listed in the ad shown and name what it stands for (for example, pc. = piece). Point out to students that context clues may help them decipher some of the trickier ones. Teachers also may want to devise similar exercises using ads from the local newspaper.

FOLLOW-UP

Have students look up the definition for acronym. On the board, list some examples (NOW = National Organization for Women; NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Hold a contest among several groups of students to see how many acronyms each can find in a week's worth of newspapers. Have each group compile its lists of acronyms, along with the written out words represented by those acronyms. The group with the most acronyms wins. For extra credit, challenge students to create their own acronyms for a real or imaginary organization.

WORKSHEET F LANGUAGE ARTS

DIRECTIONS: Read the classified ad below. Find every abbreviation used in the ad and write each in the spaces provided. Next to each abbreviation, write the word it represents. Use context clues in the ad to help you figure out the tricky ones! The first one has been done for you.

NEED MONEY FOR CAMP. MUST SELL: 8 pc Mstrs. of Unvrse set, incldg. 5 figs. and 3 vhcles. Also selling: old comic bks., mgic mrkers, sktebd. (exc. cond.), toy chest, 2 prs. soccer shoes, and more. Call Robby 782-4309.

ABBREVIATION WORD IT STANDS FOR

_______pc___________ == __________piece___________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

____________________ == __________________________________

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