Correcting the Mock Turtle

← Alice & other assignmentsRAGNAR ANTHONY · ENGLISH

WONDERLAND WORDPLAY

Correcting the
Mock Turtle

An unusual school. Familiar subjects.
Can you put the words right?

8 core answers · 4 optional challenges · 15–20 minutes

Begin the assignment ↓Printable worksheet ↗
John Tenniel’s illustration of Alice and the Gryphon listening to the Mock Turtle.

Find the ordinary words behind the nonsense. Most of the Mock Turtle’s strange subjects are deliberate jokes, not accidental spelling errors. Read each word aloud, then write the familiar word it resembles.

The school story appears in Chapter 9. The Chapter 8 illustration below connects this activity to the croquet chapter.
Your answers stay in this browser when saving is available. Nothing is submitted to your teacher. Print your answers to keep or share them.

0 of 12 word answers filledReady
A

Find the ordinary words

Write the ordinary form. Item 1 asks for a singular noun; items 2–4 ask you to uncover the school subjects.

01

Grammar warm-up: complete “We had a good ___.”

Need a clue?

Use the singular noun in “We had a good ___.”

02

Need a clue?

The skill you use to understand a book.

03

Need a clue?

The skill you use to put your thoughts on paper.

04

Need a clue?

Making a picture with a pencil.

B

The branches of arithmetic

What are the four basic operations? Match each strange word to the operation shown in its example. You may use a dictionary or search online.

05

7 + 5 = 12

Need a clue?

The operation shown by +.

06

12 − 5 = 7

Need a clue?

The operation shown by −.

07

3 × 4 = 12

Need a clue?

The operation shown by ×.

08

12 ÷ 3 = 4

Need a clue?

The operation shown by ÷.

C

More subjects from his school

Optional challenge: uncover four more ordinary subjects or activities.

09

Need a clue?

Learning about the past.

10

Need a clue?

Learning about places and the Earth.

11

Need a clue?

Making a quick, rough drawing.

12

Need a clue?

Making pictures with oil paint.

D

Why are the words funny?

Explain the jokes in your own words. These responses are for discussion or teacher review.