Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

When you find a potential vocab word for your collection, you might need to go back and find the word in your book again, especially if you discover there are multiple definitions for it. That is why you should record page numbers on your bookmark.

What does this

word mean?

potential (adjective) – a word to describe something or someone that has or shows great possibility.

noun form: potentiality or potentialadverb form: potentially

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

A Mr. Stick Cartoon requires you to apply a vocabulary word’s meaning to a situation involving a person and to document your understanding through a cartoon.

potential (adjective) – a word to describe something or someone that has or shows great possibility.

noun form: potentiality or potentialadverb form: potentially

A Mr. Stick cartoon must contain a dialogue bubble and/or a caption that correctly uses your vocabulary word—or one of its other forms, if you have them.

What cartoon might you have made for the word potential?

A Mr. Stick Cartoon:

Just because it doesn’tmake any sense doesn’t mean it’s a bad narrative!

In the hallway, Jaysen shouted with rage because his English teacher said his story showed no potential.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

One of your vocabulary options each week will be to create a Mr. Stick Cartoon based on one of your collected vocabulary words!

This will teach you to put a word’s meaning into an actual context.

This will help you improve your ability to be visual, which I also expect in your writer’s notebook.

This will tap in to your sense of humor, which shows higher-level thinking…if you do it thoughtfully.

potential (adjective) – a word to describe something or someone that has or shows great possibility.

noun form: potentiality or potentialadverb form: potentially

A Mr. Stick Cartoon:

Just because it doesn’tmake any sense doesn’t mean it’s a bad narrative!

In the hallway, Jaysen shouted with rage because his English teacher said his story showed no potential.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

“But what if I can’t draw?” some of you are asking.

Ashlee never thought she could draw either, but she made this.

I happen to think this is a pretty great Mr. Stick Vocabulary Cartoon.

Teachers: Click here to access an online Powerpoint that teaches how to draw basic Mr. Sticks.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

“But what if I can’t draw?” some of you are asking.

Others are saying, “I can draw better art than just a stickman.”

Emily, an amazing artist, still drew Mr. Stick and perfected his unique facial expressions.

Rebekkah, another fine artist, still used Mr. Stick but artistically presented him to us.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

Mr. Stick Vocabulary Cartoon Rubric:

4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

The Mr. Stick cartoon does all of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does three of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does two of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does one of these:

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

Click here for a printable version of this rubric for your students.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

Mr. Stick Vocabulary Cartoon Rubric:

4 points 3 points

The Mr. Stick cartoon does all of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does three of these:

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble uses the vocabulary word correctly.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

Did Gino earn a 3 or a 4? What should he do, if anything, to improve?

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

Mr. Stick Vocabulary Cartoon Rubric:

4 points 3 points

The Mr. Stick cartoon does all of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does three of these:

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble uses the vocabulary word correctly.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

Did Brooke earn a 3 or a 4? What should she do, if anything, to improve?

Vocabulary CollectorsRemember, it’s okay to “go the extra mile” with your Mr. Stick Vocabulary cartoons.

Creatively help yourself remember words’ meanings by inserting them into a visual scene that shows you understand when the word can be applied to life.

Take a look at these last two personified vocabulary words. Both based on good words. Both thoughtful.

Whose do you like best? Alex’s or Madelyn’s?

Alex

Madelyn

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = Mr. Stick cartoons

Mr. Stick Vocabulary Cartoon Rubric:

4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

The Mr. Stick cartoon does all of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does three of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does two of these:

The Mr. Stick cartoon does one of these:

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The Mr. Stick cartoon is presented neatly with some color.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• The caption and/or the dialogue bubble use the vocabulary word correctly.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Mr. Stick has a facial expression that attempts to be funny or interesting.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

• Other words are spelled correctly.

Never be afraid to consult the rubric three or four times.