TED-Ed

The Opposites Game

TED-Ed

Summary

A classroom activity centered around Emily Dickinson's poem "My life had stood a loaded gun" sparks a lively debate among students as they play The Opposites Game. The teacher writes the line on the board, prompting students to call out antonyms, leading to a chaotic exchange of ideas. Responses range from "flower" and "book" to more abstract concepts like "a whisper" and "a promise." The discussion escalates into a shouting match, showcasing the children's diverse interpretations and emotional connections to the words.

As the game continues over the following days, divisions form among the students, resulting in the creation of clubs based on their interpretations. The teacher encourages them to consider that all their answers might be valid, emphasizing the importance of both spoken and unspoken words. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of poetry and its meanings, as students begin to recognize the interconnectedness of their ideas. The activity ultimately transforms into a broader exploration of language, creativity, and the essence of expression.

Show Notes

A classroom erupts into a war of words as students grapple with a seemingly simple prompt: what is the opposite of a gun?Uploaded 03-06-19--A TED-Ed ProductionA film by Anna Samo + Lisa LaBracioA poem by Brendan ConstantinePoem performed by Brendan ConstantineSound Design by Weston FongerAnimation and Design by Anna Samo + Lisa LaBracioProduced by Gerta XheloThis animation is part of our series, "There's a Poem for That," which features animated interpretations of poems both old and new that give language to some of life's biggest feelings. Check out the full series here: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTheresAPoemForThatWatch an interview with the poet here: https://youtu.be/6NK7Q7eMDbUSign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterSupport us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram#poetry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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