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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes

Formal and informal vocabulary

Vocabulary

CCSS L.7.3CCSS W.7.1.DEngland: Y6 GPS (formal and informal vocabulary)England: KS2 SATs GPSEngland: GCSE English Language Paper 2

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Formal and informal vocabulary.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Choosing precise words

Leads to: Formal register and tone

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choosing precise words). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the most precise word for the gap. The clue in brackets gives the general meaning. Her ___ argument persuaded the whole committee. (convincing) (weak / compelling / short / confusing) → compellingPrompt: Several words could fit loosely. Which fits exactly?
  2. Choose the most precise word for the gap. The clue in brackets gives the general meaning. The old factory had been ___ for decades. (left empty) (repainted / crowded / abandoned / rebuilt) → abandonedPrompt: Several words could fit loosely. Which fits exactly?
  3. Choose the most precise word for the gap. The clue in brackets gives the general meaning. The volunteers worked ___ to clear the beach. (without stopping) (briefly / tirelessly / lazily / rarely) → tirelesslyPrompt: Several words could fit loosely. Which fits exactly?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Formal and informal vocabulary. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which is the most FORMAL way to say "get (as in "get the results")"?
  • Step 1: Formal vocabulary is more precise and avoids slang and contractions.
  • Step 2: The formal choice would suit an essay or official letter.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: obtain
  • Answer: obtain
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which is the most FORMAL way to say "a lot of"? (heaps of / a great deal of / tons of / loads of) → a great deal ofPrompt: Formal words suit official letters, reports and essays.
  2. Which is the most FORMAL way to say "help"? (assist / pitch in / give a hand / chip in) → assistPrompt: Formal words suit official letters, reports and essays.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which is the most FORMAL way to say "ask for"? (hit up / holler for / request / ask about) → requestPrompt: Formal words suit official letters, reports and essays.
  2. Which is the most FORMAL way to say "start"? (kick off / commence / crack on / get going) → commencePrompt: Formal words suit official letters, reports and essays.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Choosing precise words.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Formal register and tone.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Formal and informal vocabulary

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "find out"?

    • A. figure out
    • B. suss out
    • C. discover
    • D. dig up

  2. Question 2

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "need"?

    • A. require
    • B. gotta have
    • C. could do with
    • D. wanna

  3. Question 3

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "start"?

    • A. crack on
    • B. get going
    • C. kick off
    • D. commence

  4. Question 4

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "buy"?

    • A. grab
    • B. purchase
    • C. pick up
    • D. snap up

  5. Question 5

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "ask for"?

    • A. hit up
    • B. ask about
    • C. request
    • D. holler for

  6. Question 6

    Which is the most FORMAL way to say "help"?

    • A. pitch in
    • B. chip in
    • C. give a hand
    • D. assist

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Answer key: Formal and informal vocabulary

  1. 1. C. discover

  2. 2. A. require

  3. 3. D. commence

  4. 4. B. purchase

  5. 5. C. request

  6. 6. D. assist