TOPIC: VOCABULARY
Discipline
Language Arts, History
Grade Level
6-12
Type of Activity
Small Group, Entire Class, Individual, Ongoing, Performing Arts, Writing
Objectives



Students will define new vocabulary words from Of Mice and Men and place
them on a “Word Wall.”
Students will be regularly tested on such words.
Students will be expected to use these new words in sentences/short skits.
Overview
Students need to understand and define words from the novel with which they are not
familiar. In small, pre-assigned pairs, students will be responsible for choosing and
defining, for the class as a whole, vocabulary words.
Ultimately, vocabulary should be the students’ responsibility to make their own lists and
define.
However, the following initial words are provided, because they are unfamiliar slang
words used during the 1930s.
1. bindle: a bed roll and/or pack of personal belongings
2. jack: money
3. graybacks: lice
4. tick: mattress
5. buck: a man
6. bucker: those who move or load heavy objects (sacks of grain, for example)
7. skinner: a driver of a draft (team of animals)
8. tart: prostitute
9. mules: shoes or slippers
10. found: free food and lodgings in addition to wages
11. hoosegow: jail
12. hame: part of the collar for a draft animal
13. booby hatch: insane asylum
14. floozy: cheap, immoral woman
15. snooker: a variation of pool played with 15 red balls and 6 balls of assorted colors
16. bindle: a bed roll and/or pack of personal belongings
17. jack: money
18. graybacks: lice
19. tick: mattress
20. buck: a man
21. bucker: those who move or load heavy objects (sacks of grain, for example)
22. skinner: a driver of a draft (team of animals)
23. tart: prostitute
24. mules: shoes or slippers
25. found: free food and lodgings in addition to wages
26. hoosegow: jail
27. hame: part of the collar for a draft animal
28. booby hatch: insane asylum
29. floozy: cheap, immoral woman
30. snooker: a variation of pool played with 15 red balls and 6 balls of assorted colors
Materials Needed/Preparation





Copies of Of Mice and Men
Classroom dictionaries
Of Mice and Men notebooks
Butcher paper and markers
Copies of slang terms organizer (blank or completed version). Optional.
Estimated Time
Ongoing—teachers should take time as needed/available (perhaps 5-10 minutes at the
end of each class devoted to Of Mice and Men).
Procedures:
For vocabulary terms, students should become “vocabulary partners” with someone at the
beginning of the unit. At the end of each Of Mice and Men class (5-10 minutes, time
permitting), partners should meet and identify and define new vocabulary words.
Eventually, all words defined in class will be shared by all on a “Word Wall.”
The Word Wall:

All student-identified vocabulary words (or other key terms) and definitions
should be written and posted on butcher paper in the classroom; this is essentially
an ongoing “word wall,” which students have created and of which they can be
proud.






A word wall is a display area in the classroom devoted strictly to
vocabulary/terms that will be used, or are being used, during the course of a
particular unit of study.
A word wall may be unfamiliar to secondary teachers (it is mostly associated with
the elementary classroom). Regardless, the word wall is wonderful for all ages
and promotes vocabulary growth leading ultimately to improvement in literacy. It
is a great device for all, but especially for those students who do not speak
English as their first language.
Use butcher paper to tape up (or place in “pockets,” etc.) words/definitions around
the classroom. Then, as teachers or students introduce new vocabulary, add the
words to the wall. Encourage students to add small drawings as well.
All students will be expected to write in their notebooks the words and
definitions.
For ongoing homework, students will be expected to use all new words in original
sentences.
Ongoing, students (in small groups) may perform a short skit using all the words
defined so far.
Standards Met






Reading Standards for Literature 6-12
o Key Ideas and Details: 1
o Craft and Structure: 4
o Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: 10
Writing Standards 6-12
o Text Types and Purposes: 1,3
o Production and Distribution of Writing: 4,5
Speaking and Listening Standards 6-12
o Comprehension and Collaboration: 1
Language Standards 6-12
o Conventions of Standard English: 1,2
o Knowledge of Language: 3
o Vocabulary Acquisition and Use: 4,5,6
Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
o Key Ideas and Details: 1
o Craft and Structure: 4
o Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: 10
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical
Subjects 6-12
o Text Types and Purposes: 1
o Production and Distribution of Writing: 4,5
Post Activity/Takeaways/Follow-up

Takeaways
o

This is an ongoing activity, but student partners should be sure to maintain
their list of words and definitions. After the unit, partners can switch and test
each other on words/definitions for a final Of Mice and Men vocabulary
examination.
Follow-up
o Teachers will monitor and grade student-based tests.
Assessment

Teachers can test students regularly on words and definitions. The frequency of
such vocabulary quizzes (with the Word Wall covered, of course!) is up to the
individual teachers. A final examination would also be recommended.
Slang Terms
The following are slang terms found in Of Mice and Men. Provide a definition for the slang
term and the page number(s) where the term is found in Of Mice and Men.
Term
Definition
Bindle
Jack
Graybacks
Tick
Buck
Bucker
Skinner
533577429
Tart
Mules
Found
Hoosegow
Hame
Booby hatch
Floozy
Snooker
533577429
Slang Terms
The following are slang terms found in Of Mice and Men.
Term
Definition
Bindle
A bed roll and/or pack of personal belongings
Jack
Money
Graybacks
Lice
Tick
Mattress
Buck
A man
Bucker
Those who move or load heavy objects (sacks of grain, for example)
Skinner
A driver of a draft (team of animals).
533577429
Tart
Prostitute
Mules
Shoes or slippers
Found
Free food and lodgings in addition to wages.
Hoosegow
Jail
Hame
Part of the collar for a draft animal.
Booby hatch
Insane asylum
Floozy
Cheap, immoral woman
Snooker
A variation of pool played with 15 red balls and 6 balls of assorted
colors.
533577429