Pre-activities

The teacher will read the book Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Students will compile a list
of 10 compound words from the story. There are over 15 compound words throughout the story.
The teacher will decide the best way for students to compile the list. For example, the story could
be read aloud again and students could write down the compound words as they hear them, or the
students could make a class list as the teacher rereads the story. Also, the book(s) could be made
available to the students who would be responsible for reading it and recording the words during
appropriate work times. Several days may be needed to allow for this option.
Activities
Part I
1. Students would bring their lists of compound words to a computer lab where each student
should have access to a computer and a spreadsheet program.
2. If the teacher has not already introduced the parts of a spreadsheet, s/he would do so
before entering any data. Make sure that row, column, cell, and entry bar have
been defined.
3. Students will enter data into two columns. For this exercise, they will not have a column
heading.
4. Each cell in one row will have part of a compound word. Example: meat and balls for
meatballs. Go down to the next row for the next word.
5. Students should save no later than after having entered the fifth word. Encourage them to
save early and to save often.
6. Once all 10 compound words have been entered, save again.
7. Students will select all the cells (both columns) and sort them in ascending order
(alphabetically).
8. Save
Part II
Just for fun, students will now create new compound words by mixing up the order of the word
parts.
1. Select all the words in only one column and sort them in descending order. This will
create new and silly compound words.
2. Students should then choose one new compound word and type a sentence using the
new word. Encourage them to be creative and have fun. In Microsoft Works 4.0
(spreadsheet), students can type a sentence using the Text Tool in the Tool Palette.
3. Save
4. Students should made sure their name is on their document. Print.
See Attachment below for an example of how the spreadsheet would look after they have been
sorted and new compound words have been created.
Extension
Students could write a sister story to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs using their
new silly compound words.
Or, students could illustrate their new compound word in a drawing program such as Kid
Pix.