Anagrams for Primary 4 Pupils: Fun Wordplay Lesson with Examples

Class: Basic 4

Subject: Verbal Reasoning

Topic: Anagrams

Sub-topic: Rearranging Letters to Form New Words

Duration: 40 Minutes

Behavioral Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain what an anagram is in their own words.

2. Recognize common anagram word pairs.

3. Rearrange letters of a word to form another meaningful word.

4. Apply their understanding of anagrams in both writing and speaking tasks.

Keywords

• Anagram

• Rearrangement

• Wordplay

• Letters

• Meaningful words

Set Induction (Real-Life Story-Based Introduction)

Last term during our spelling bee, one of my Primary 4 pupils accidentally spelled “stop” as “post.” We all paused—and then someone shouted, “Hey, that’s a different word with the same letters!” That moment sparked a lively classroom debate, and it gave me an idea: what if we turned that into a full lesson on anagrams?

As a teacher who works with words daily, I find it fascinating how rearranging just a few letters can totally change the meaning. It reminds me of Scrabble nights at home, where my little nephew once turned “tone” into “note” and beat all the adults. Anagrams aren’t just games—they train the brain to think creatively.

Definition

An anagram is a new word formed by rearranging all the letters in a word to make another word with a different meaning. Every letter must be used once, and the result must be a real, meaningful word.

Examples of Anagrams from Real Life

• Peal → Leap (like when we jump with joy on our birthday)

• Tars → Star (just like the one we draw on our best homework)

• Bag → Gab (what some of us do during break time!)

• Tone → Note (reminds me of the sticky notes I leave on my desk)

• God → Dog (two powerful words—one for faith, one for friendship)

Class Activity: Can You Solve These Anagrams?

Rearrange the letters to form a new word that matches the clue.

1. Net – the number after nine → Ten

2. Rail – someone who doesn’t tell the truth → Liar

3. Guns – past participle of sing → Sung

4. Now – used to show ownership → Own

5. Wed – morning water on leaves → Dew

6. Live – something worn over the face → Veil

Teacher and Learner Activities

• Teacher’s Role:

  • Tell stories or ask pupils to think of funny word swaps they’ve seen in cartoons or books.

  • Write each word on the board and call on volunteers to unscramble them.

  • Show how anagrams appear in everyday life, e.g., names like Elvis and Lives.

• Learners’ Role:

  • Actively engage by offering their own anagram pairs.

  • Work in pairs to form new anagrams using word flashcards.

  • Explain their answers out loud and correct one another kindly.

Evaluation (Short Answers)

Write the correct anagram for the words below:

1. Dog → __________

2. Stop → __________

3. Name → __________

4. Flow → __________

5. Save → __________

10 FAQs Pupils Might Ask (and How to Answer Them)

1. Q: Can anagrams be names?
   A: Yes, names like “Mary” can become “Army,” but not all names work.

2. Q: What if I leave out a letter?
   A: That won’t count as a true anagram. You must use all the letters once.

3. Q: Are anagrams always real words?
   A: Yes, if the new word doesn’t exist, it’s not a correct anagram.

4. Q: What if two anagrams don’t look related?
   A: That’s fine! Stop and pots look different but share the same letters.

5. Q: Can I make more than one anagram from a word?
   A: Yes! Try “listen”—it becomes “silent” or even “enlist.”

6. Q: Is it cheating to use a dictionary?
   A: Not in class. It helps you learn and expand your vocabulary.

7. Q: Why do we learn anagrams in Verbal Reasoning?
   A: They improve your spelling, vocabulary, and brain power.

8. Q: Are anagrams used outside the classroom?
   A: Absolutely! Writers use them for wordplay and puzzles in books.

9. Q: What if I find a new one not in the book?
   A: Share it! Your classmates can learn something new too.

10. Q: What if I struggle with spelling?
    A: That’s okay. Anagrams are a fun way to get better at spelling. Keep practicing.

Conclusion

Today, we didn’t just play with words—we learned how powerful they can be. Anagrams help us think in new ways and notice details. The next time you see a word, look closely—you might just find another one hiding inside!