me: in our play, richard II says "let's talk of worms, and graves, and epitaphs." who knows what an "epitaph" is?
class: {looks of bewilderment}
me: ok, let's use some contextual clues. what are the words around "epitaph?" what scenario is the character talking about?
first student: he said worms, like meaning decay?
me: yes! what else?
second student: he's talking about death. you know, because of the graves?
me: absolutely! anything else?
third student: graveyards?!
me: correct! worms, death, graveyards...in this environment king richard is describing, what might an "epitaph" be?
class: {sound of wheels turning in middle school minds}
me: anyone? go ahead, take a wild guess!
fourth student: {hand slowly raises} is it something about a grave?
me: yes! {making the motion of drawing an arched gravestone in the air to give visual support} worms and graves and....
fourth student: {watching me wildly drawing invisible air arches and trying to understand my clue} death rainbows?
me: um, no.
class: {awkward silence}
me: but death rainbows sound awesome!
class: {laughter}
me: do you want to guess again?
fourth student: yeah...is it the writing on a grave?
me: yesssss!
class: {applause}
thus, our new class mascot...
death rainbows.
