Man-Compounds Lesson Plan

Introduction

Compound words ending in “man” are a fascinating aspect of the English language, offering rich opportunities for vocabulary development.

These compound words often describe professions, roles, or objects and can sometimes confuse English learners due to the varied relationships between the words that form them. For instance, while a “postman” delivers letters, a “snowman” is a figure made of snow.

This lesson plan aims to enhance students’ vocabulary awareness by exploring and practicing compound words ending in “man.”

Compound Words Ending in Man: Lesson Overview

Man-Compounds Lesson Plan

1. Introduction to Man-Compounds:

• Begin by informing students that compound words ending in “man” are common in English and are formed by combining two words. Explain that these compounds often describe professions or roles but can also refer to other things.
• Write a few examples on the board:
  • Postman
  • Fisherman
  • Snowman
  • Chairman

2. Exploration and Matching Exercise:

Distribute a handout with a matching exercise that includes a list of compound words ending in “man” alongside their definitions. Here’s an example:

Compound	Definition
1. best man	a man who is a member of a police force.
2. cameraman	a person who carries and delivers mail as a profession.
3. chairman	a character in fairy tales and folklore who makes children go to sleep by sprinkling sand in their eyes.
4. clergyman	a person with advertising boards hanging from the shoulders.
5. fireman	a figure of a person made from packed snow, usually formed by piling large snowballs on top of each other.
6. fisherman	a man of gentle or noble birth or a man who is well-mannered and considerate.
7. freshman	a trademark used for a pocket-sized cassette player, compact disk player, radio, or combined unit with lightweight earphones.
8. garbage man	a man who is a nonprofessional.
9. gentleman	a man who sells or delivers milk to customers.
10. hit man	one who fishes as an occupation or for sport.
11. layman	a person employed to collect, haul away, and dispose of garbage.
12. milkman	a man hired by a crime syndicate as a professional killer.
13. policeman	a man who is a member of the church.
14. postman	a man who fights fires
15. sandman	the presiding officer of an assembly, meeting, committee, or board.
16. sandwichman	a student in the first-year class of a high school, college, or university.
17. snowman	the bridegroom’s chief attendant at a wedding.
18. walkman	a man who operates a movie or television camera.

Students work in small groups to match the compound words with their definitions.

2. Discussion and Classification:

• After correcting the matching exercise, engage students in a discussion to classify the compound words based on the following categories:
  • Who delivers things?
  • Who collects things?
  • Who sells things?
  • Who is something?
• Ask students to consider:
  • Which compounds can be used for both men and women?
  • Which compounds refer to occupations?
  • Which compounds do not refer to a human being?

3. Group Activity:

• In small groups, have students create sentences using the compound words they have learned.
• Encourage them to think creatively and use the words in various contexts. For example:
  • The postman delivered the package early this morning.
  • A fisherman caught a huge tuna yesterday.

4. Class Presentation:

• Invite groups to present their sentences to the class. Use this time to correct any mistakes and reinforce the meanings of the compound words.

Conclusion

Understanding compound words ending in man can significantly enhance students’ vocabulary and comprehension of English. This lesson plan introduces these compounds and engages students in various activities that reinforce their understanding. By the end of the lesson, students should be more confident in recognizing, using, and understanding man-compounds in different contexts.

Related Pages:

• Compound Adjectives
• Exercise: Plural of Compound Nouns
• Exercises: Compound Adjectives 1
• Exercises: Compound Adjectives 2