What teachers say. “My students made six times more As… Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?” Melissa Skinner, High School Language Arts Teacher More than half of my students scored 90% or better on a cumulative test of Vocabulary Cartoons… their retention was amazing!” Cindy Benge, English Teacher “My fifty-five ninth graders learned an average of 147 SAT level words in only three hours of study… Unbelievable!” Larry Marsh, English Teacher “I’ve been teaching 6th grade for 11 years and Vocabulary Cartoons is the best purchase I’ve made. My students crave these wild and wacky cartoons.” Lesia English, English Teacher “.So entertaining it teaches itself. What a joy it is to have the entire class alert and joining in together as they learn.” Sharon Kramer, Language Arts Teacher “Best way for kids to learn new words, I work with students with learning disabilities and these kids aren’t afraid of new words now.they really have fun with the mnemonic cartoons.” Lisa Wilco, Learning Disability Specialist “My girls eat them up! It is truly the easiest way to teach vocabulary.” Renee Davis, Homeschool Mother Copyright 2013 Sam Burchers Cartoon Copyright 2013 Sam Burchers All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Exceptions are made for brief excerpts to be used in published reviews. Manufactured in the United States of America. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-96399 ISBN: 0-9652422-7-7 Illustrations: Bryan Burchers, Lee Horton, David Horton, Beryl “Woody” Woodman, Joe Toth,Andrew Grimm.
Cover Design: Bryan Burchers, D. Publishing Setup & Typography: Sam Burchers III Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Burchers, Sam Vocabulary Cartoons Sam “Max” Burchers, Bryan Burchers, & Sam Burchers, III p. Vocabulary Cartoons - United States II. Title 96-96399 New Monic Books P.
Box 511314 Punta Gorda, FL 33951 (941) 575-6669 www.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Educators Our gratitude to the following educators who contributed their expertise in making this book possible. Larry Marsh - Language Arts Teacher North Ft. Myers High School, North Ft. Myers, Florida Judy Baxley & Nancy Wiseman - Language Arts Teachers Mariner High School, Cape Coral, Florida John LeClair & Christine Miller - Elementary School Teachers Deep Creek Elementary, Punta Gorda, Florida Joe Baxley - Elementary School Teacher Pine Island Elementary, Pine Island, Florida Beth Crosby - Elementary School Teacher of the Year 1996 Diplomat Elementary, Cape Coral, Florida Sue Williams - Elementary School Teacher Liberty Elementary, Pt.
Charlotte, Florida The Artists Our special thanks to staff artists Bryan Burchers, Lee and Dave Horton, Beryl “Woody” Woodman and contributing artist Andrew Grimm and Joe Toth. Their collective talents provided the essential quality of zany humor and outrageous bizarreness that make cartoon mnemonics memorable. Introduction WHAT THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT This book is about having fun while learning new words easier and faster than you have ever thought possible. You may laugh at many of the 210 cartoons in the book, but don’t for a minute think the cartoons are just for your amusement.
Each and every cartoon is a vocabulary learning tool in the form of a mnemonic device. A mnemonic (nuh MON ik) is a fancy word which simply means “assisting the memory.” Memory experts tell us mnemonics are just about the best way to remember anything. RHYMING MNEMONICS A rhyming mnemonic is a form of word association where you rhyme a word you want to learn with a word you already know. Here’s an example of a rhyming mnemonic you probably are already familiar with.
It is the famous one that teachers often use to help their students remember the date Christopher Columbus discovered America. It goes like this: “Columbus sailed the ocean BLUE in fourteen hundred and ninety-TWO.” BLUE, of course, rhymes with TWO. See how rhymes can be helpful in remembering things? In this book you will find that every word you wish to learn is rhymed with a word you probably already know. VISUAL MNEMONICS: PICTURES IN YOUR MIND There is a famous expression that says “a picture is worth a thousand words.” For most people it’s easier to remember pictures that are seen rather than sounds that are heard.
Anything that can be visualized as an object is much easier to remember. All human beings have something like built-in cameras inside their heads. When you know what a banana looks like and you hear the word, your mind automatically makes a mental picture of a banana. MAKING A PICTURE WITH A SUBSTITUTE WORD Unfortunately, most words we use to communicate with do not make pictures.
In that case we find substitute words that do make pictures and use them for words that do not. Take the word PARRY. PARRY means to protect yourself from a blow; to avoid skillfully; to turn aside and evade. For example: “George PARRIED the blow by jumping to one side.” PARRY is not a word that makes a picture.
But there are words that sound like PARRY that do make pictures.One word that rhymes with Parry is PEAR. To make a mnemonic (memory aid) we take these two words, PARRY and PEAR, and put them together into a cartoon picture. We have now combined a RHYMING mnemonic and a VISUAL mnemonic; making it twice as easy to remember a new word. Of course, two pears with arms and legs and swords makes a ridiculous picture.
But the crazier the picture the easier it is to remember. From now on, when you hear the word PARRY and you don’t remember the definition, just think of what it sounds like. It sounds like PEAR. Now think of the two words together, PARRY and PEAR.
You’ll remember the picture of two PEARS PARRYING and that will tell you the meaning of PARRY is to protect yourself by skillfully avoiding a blow. That’s all there is to remembering new words with the aid of mnemonic vocabulary cartoons. First, RHYME a word you do know with one you do not, and then see the two words in a PICTURE together. Vocabulary Cartoons make learning new words easy and entertaining.
You will be amazed at the magic of mnemonics as your vocabulary grows and grows. to kidnap or carry off by force Sounds like: DUCK "ABDUCTED DUCKS" The Evil Knight planned to ABDUCT the queen when she came alone to the village. Our basketball team was ABDUCTED by terrorists. The neighbor’s boy ABDUCTED our pet pig, and we paid a ransom of a box of cookies to get him back.
members of an irregular military force operating in small bands behind enemy lines Sounds like: GORILLAS "GORILLA GUERRILLAS" The GUERRILLAS stormed the town and then fled back into the woods before the army troops arrived. GUERRILLAS often have to steal and capture equipment from the enemy as they have none of their own. Jack’s mom said he and his friends were a bunch of house GUERRILLAS, but she loved them anyway. one who amuses with jokes and tricks; a bumbling or ridiculous person, a fool Sounds like: BABOON “A BUFFOON of a BABOON” Robin is a BUFFOON.
At the party he stood on his head and sang Jingle Bells.) A little BUFFOONERY sometimes is a welcome thing at a dull gathering.) Uncle Jed warned his nephew that his BUFFOONISH behavior did not belong at the dinner table. to move clumsily; to struggle or proceed with difficulty; a fish Sounds like: FLOUNDER (fish) “A FLOUNDERING FLOUNDER” The dog FLOUNDERED through the mud attempting to find his master in the dark night.) Jack started his speech but began to FLOUNDER when he couldn’t find his notes.) A FLOUNDER is a flat fish species mostly found at the bottom of coastal lagoons in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. the developed pattern of one’s knowledge, beliefs and behavior Sounds like: VULTURE “VULTURES with CULTURE” The CULTURE of ancient Egypt has been studied perhaps more than any in mankind’s history. It is in most CULTURES to be nice to your fellow man.
A CULTURED person often reads great literature, appreciates fine art, and eats good food. characterized or exhibiting elegance; excellent Sounds like: PELICAN “An ELEGANT PELICAN is a very fine bird.” The presidential ball was an ELEGANT affair. The Princess was dressed in an ELEGANT Thai silk gown for the ball. The ever-popular playwright, Tennessee Williams, wrote ELEGANTLY about the decadent South.
to live or dwell in Sounds like: RABBIT “RABBITS INHABIT holes.” Ants INHABIT ant hills. People INHABIT houses and buildings. Dinosaurs INHABITED the Earth millions of years ago. to urge, prick or push Sounds like: TOAD “Never GOAD a big TOAD.” Because he was so tall, Michael’s friends GOADED him to try out for basketball.
Her friends called Helen “chicken” and GOADED her into becoming a cheerleader. Bill’s bad grades GOADED him into studying harder. able to reproduce children, seeds, or fruits; highly productive Sounds like: TURTLE “A FERTILE TURTLE” Mabel is our FERTILE cow and has a calf every spring. The village was located in a FERTILE valley where many farms grow vegetables.
Most fiction writers have FERTILE imaginations. a large pipe or conduit for carrying water from a distant location Sounds like: AQUA DUCK “AQUA DUCKS working on an AQUEDUCT” AQUEDUCTS that carry liquids can be opened, like ditches, or closed, like pipes. AQUEDUCTS can be made of stone or wood, as well as steel and plastics. The Romans built huge AQUEDUCTS to bring water to their cities.
Vocabulary Cartoons - REVIEW #1 Match the word with its definition. large water pipe ___ 4. to live in ___ 6. to urge, prick or prod ___ 7.
products of humans aqueduct - (aqua exhibiting ___ 10. duck) excellence Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word. The word form may need changing. The speaker began to __________ when he couldn’t find his notes.
The Romans built __________ to carry water to their cities. Bryan’s friends __________ him to try out for the tennis team. The __________ child was returned to his parents by the police. A __________ person often reads great literature.
Ants __________ ant hills. The princess was dressed in an __________ gown at the ball. __________ troops often capture weapons from their enemies. Mabel is a __________ cow and has a calf every spring.
Robin stood on his head and acted the __________ at Larry’s party. to act or walk about in a lively manner Sounds like: DANCE “The majorette came PRANCING down the street, leading the parade in a high-stepping DANCE.” Rodney was a real showboat; every time he made a touchdown he PRANCED about as if he thought he was “hot stuff.” Cindy’s horse was trained to PRANCE in the most regal manner. Ricky PRANCED down the hall after getting straight As on his report card. to intrude gradually upon the rights of another; to trespass Sounds like: ROACH “ROACHES will ENCROACH wherever there is food.” My sister always ENCROACHES on my side of the couch by lying down and placing her legs on my lap.
The weeds from the adjacent vacant lot continued spreading with each rain until they ENCROACHED into our vegetable garden. The ENCROUCHING tide caused our beach house to fall into the sea. very much in love Sounds like: KITTEN “A SMITTEN KITTEN” The SMITTEN young man carried a bouquet of flowers for his girlfriend. After receiving a birthday card from Laura, Nathan was SMITTEN.
Brad Pitt ran out of the restaurant with a group of SMITTEN girls trailing behind him. to refer to casually or indirectly Sounds like: RUDE “Not to be RUDE, the hostess only ALLUDED to her guest’s manners.” The letter Mark received ALLUDED to something that happened in his college days. The merchant often ALLUDED to his military days as the best time in his life. It is RUDE to ALLUDE to how much money a person has.