Article
Illustration by Allan Davey

Grammar’s Ghost Ship

This fun feature about a possibly haunted cruise ship offers practice using number and amount.

From the October 2017 Issue

Learning Objective: to correctly use the commonly confused words number and amount

Activities (1)
Answer Key (1)
Activities (1)
Answer Key (1)

DIG DEEPER

As a class, watch this fascinating video about how the Queen Mary was built. To learn more about the ship, explore this collection of videos about the Queen Mary on the ship’s website.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. INTRODUCE AND PRACTICE GRAMMAR SKILL

  • As a class, read Grammar’s HINT (found in the upper right corner of the second page) to introduce or review the commonly confused words addressed in the feature. Then read the annotations, which model the correct usage.
  • Have students practice the grammar skill by completing the activity as a class, in groups, or individually. In the activity, students choose which of the commonly confused words to use at several points within three short boxes of text.

2. REINFORCE SKILL

  • Use the “Number vs. Amount” activity.
  • Have students observe the commonly confused words in context by searching for examples of their use in the magazine or in other reading material.

EDITOR'S TIP

Challenge students to come up with their own “number/amount” sentences. Have them trade their sentences with a partner. What words do your students confuse? We’d love your suggestions for future grammar activities.

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