What is a Rebus?

A rebus puzzle is sometimes called a pictogram, where letters, numbers, and pictures
go together to make a word or phrase. Classroom rebuses can be found in stories
and puzzles. These can help students concentration skills and exercise their brains.
Look at the following images and try to work out what they mean...

HIGH
HIGH

Answers:
1. Sit down shut up
2. Middle Aged
3. Too High
How Can Rebuses be used in the Classroom?
1) Give the learners a copy of the worksheet, and ask them to try and work out the
answers. You will, of course, need to explain the concept first, showing them some
examples (with their answers).
2) Have a "Rebus of the Day Competition". This would be similar to the "Question of the
Day" activity except that you show the learners a Rebus, and they have to try and work
out what it means.
3) Draw some rebuses on the board, and ask the learners to work out the answers
during registration time.
4) Spend a lesson discussing and working out lots of rebuses. When the learners are
comfortable with them, they might be able to make some of their own.
5) Make a "Rebus Puzzle Note". Each learner can make a page, on which there are a
number of rebuses. Learners could also include some of their own made-up rebuses.
Remember to make "Answers" section in your note, so that activity can be checked.