Verbal SAT Prep

Teachers Guide
Grade Level: 9-12

Curriculum Focus: English/Language Arts

Theme: SAT Prep

Objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
Identify how to complete an analogy;
Explain how to use test taking reading strategies during the reading portion of the
SAT;
Understand the importance of the SAT test;
Use new vocabulary words in a variety of contexts.

Materials
Standard Deviants School SAT Review: Analogies on Discovery Education streaming;
Standard Deviants School SAT Review: Powering Up the Brain on Discovery Education
streaming;
Standard Deviants School SAT Review: Critical Reading on Discovery Education streaming;
Computer with Internet access.

Classroom Connections
Why is the SAT important?
What is the prove it technique?
What is an analogy?
What is the marriage approach to completing analogies?
What are the six categories of analogies?
What is the chart method during critical reading?
Why are line references so important when answering reading questions on the SAT?

Published by Discovery Education. 2010. All rights reserved.

What is a flotsam?
When should you read or skim a passage?

Classroom Activities
Students should create a visual thesaurus to determine the relationship between words when
figuring out an analogy. By understanding the relationship between words it is easier to
comprehend each individual word. For example, look at AQUATIC : WATER :: terrestrial :
_______________. To create a visual theasarus, students should center the word on a sheet of
paper. Branches indicating synonyms for the word should reach out of the main word
(aquatic), creating a web. For example:

Students may complete a visual theasarus for each word in the analogy. The visual theasarus
should help students decide on a correct answer for the analogy. After they finish the example,
provide several more analogies for students to practice with.
Provide students with a sample SAT practice reading passage. Together as a class, review the
SAT critical reading strategies from Standard Deviants School SAT Review: Critical Reading. Now
put the techniques into practice. Read the passage together as a class. Then determine which
type of question is being asked before answering the question. At this time, have students
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individually answer the questions while using any of the critical reading strategies (focus on
the chart method or the prove it technique). When all students have finished, review the
answers together as a class. Specify why each answer is correct.

Vocabulary
context - the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its
meaning
flotsam - floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo
reference - something (as a sign or indication) that refers a reader or consulter to another
source of information (as a book or passage)
analogy inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they
will probably agree in others
infinitive - a verb form normally identical in English with the first person singular that
performs some functions of a noun and at the same time displays some characteristics of a
verb and that is used with to (as in I asked him to go) except with auxiliary and various other
verbs (as in no one saw him leave)
*By permission From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary 2011 by Merriam Webster, Incorporated (www.mw.com

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Published by Discovery Education. 2010. All rights reserved.