Collective Nouns and Politics Icebreaker

Collective Noun Caucus

Social Studies Lab

🔊 Sound ⛶ Fullscreen 📄 Worksheet PDF socialstudieslab.org →

Woof. I am Roger, also known as the GoPup. Before we get into the actual government part of this class, we need to talk about the English language and its wildly specific opinions on group names. A group of crows is a murder. A group of owls is a parliament. Make of that what you will.

The Collective Noun Caucus

A three stage warm up for your first week in AP Government and Politics. English has strange and specific names for groups of animals. We are going to enjoy those, then invent our own for the wonderful chaos of American politics.

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Stage 1: Star Search

Browse forty real collective nouns and star your seven favorites.

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Stage 2: Human Menagerie

Roger made up collective nouns for humans. Judge them accordingly.

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Stage 3: Make Your Own

Invent collective nouns for five GoPo terms and file your card.

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Class Showcase

Present every submitted card to the whole class, one at a time.

These are all real. I did not make a single one of these up. Star your seven favorites, then lock them in.

Star Search

⭐ 0 of 7 starred

Lock In My Seven Back

Excellent taste, or at least seven confident choices. Filed to your Collection.

Your Seven Favorites

Your name (so this saves to your Collection) Save to My Collection

Next: Human Menagerie Home

Unlike Stage 1, I invented every single one of these myself. No dictionary was consulted. Read them and weep, or laugh, either is fine.

The Human Menagerie

These are not real dictionary terms. They are original creations, presented for your enjoyment and mild outrage.

Next: Make Your Own Home

Your turn. Pick five GoPo terms below, then invent a collective noun for each one. Aim for clever, not cruel.

Make Your Own

Your name or team name

✅ 0 of 5 selected

Submit My Collective Nouns Back

Filed and stamped. Your card is now ready for Class Showcase.

Card Submitted

⬇ Download PDF Card Go to Class Showcase Home

Class Showcase

Every card submitted on this device, ready to present. Use Present Mode to cycle through them fullscreen for the whole class.

▶ Start Present Mode Home

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⬇ Download This Card as PDF Exit Present Mode

Built for AP Government and Politics students by Social Studies Lab — Roger the Beagle approves this message.