No dear, that's a made up word.

Here's the conversation that took place in my class today...

Me: Okay, so we've looked at Parallel lines and perpendicular lines.  There's a third type of line we're going to look at.  (so I draw the lines on the board). What type of lines are these not?

Student 1: They're not parallel.  They run into each other.

Me: That's correct.  So if they're not parallel, maybe they're perpendicular.

Student 2: No, that box thing isn't where the two lines cross.

Me: That's right.  What does that "box thing" mean?

Student 3: It means the angle is 90 degrees.

Me: Great!!! (Now, I'm thinking we're on a roll). So if it's not parallel and it's not perpendicular, we must have a new type of line.  I give them the hint that it starts with an I.  It's what we call where Yale Blvd and Apollo Road meet.

The kids are thinking really hard.  And student four says: It's inter-, inter- inter-

At which point Student 5 very excitedly yells out "OH! I KNOW!  IT'S INTERCOURSE!!!"

Me: Pause...Um, you're close, but it's not that. 

Student 4 says: It's Intersection!

Me: Yep! That's it!  And I write it on the anchor chart.

When I turn around, several students are thinking that they've heard the word Intercourse before.

One student says: I've heard that word somewhere before.

Me: Nope, dear.  That's a made up word.  Now, if you'll look at the activity that's in front of you...