English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes
Positive, neutral or negative connotation?
Vocabulary
CCSS L.6.5.CEngland: KS3 English (language analysis)England: GCSE English Language Paper 1 Q2
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Positive, neutral or negative connotation?.
- 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: Connotation and denotation
Leads to: Choosing words to create a tone or mood
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 (Connotation and denotation). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Read the question and choose. Which word has the most POSITIVE connotation for someone thin? (scrawny / slender / bony / skinny) → slenderPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
- Read the question and choose. Which word has the most POSITIVE connotation for someone who won't change their mind? (obstinate / pig-headed / determined / stubborn) → determinedPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
- Read the question and choose. Which word has the most NEGATIVE connotation for an old building? (vintage / antique / historic / decrepit) → decrepitPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
Hook · 3 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Positive, neutral or negative connotation?. 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: Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? Our coach is DETERMINED to win the league.
- Step 1: Words with similar meanings can feel positive (slender), neutral (thin) or negative (scrawny).
- Step 2: So the answer is: positive
- Answer: positive
- 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.
- Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? She is a THRIFTY shopper who always finds a bargain. (positive / neutral / negative) → positivePrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling the word carries.
- Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants a character to seem ANNOYINGLY talkative. (articulate / chatty / sociable / blabbering) → blabberingPrompt: All the choices have similar dictionary meanings. Focus on the feeling.
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.
- Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants an old house to sound CHARMING. (run-down / quaint / dilapidated / shabby) → quaintPrompt: All the choices have similar dictionary meanings. Focus on the feeling.
- Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? Our neighbour is very NOSY about everyone's business. (positive / neutral / negative) → negativePrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling the word carries.
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: Connotation and denotation.
- 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: Choosing words to create a tone or mood.
- 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-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder