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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.
  1. Read the question and choose. Which word has the most POSITIVE connotation for someone thin? (skinny / slender / scrawny / bony) → slenderPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
  2. Read the question and choose. Which word has the most NEGATIVE connotation for someone who is curious? (inquisitive / nosy / eager to learn / interested) → nosyPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
  3. Read the question and choose. Which word has the most POSITIVE connotation for someone who won't change their mind? (determined / obstinate / pig-headed / stubborn) → determinedPrompt: 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.
  1. Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The car was PARKED outside the school. (positive / neutral / negative) → neutralPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling the word carries.
  2. Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants a confident speaker to seem ANNOYING. (self-assured / confident / arrogant / poised) → arrogantPrompt: 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.
  1. Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants readers to ADMIRE a character who saves money. (thrifty / stingy / tight-fisted / miserly) → thriftyPrompt: All the choices have similar dictionary meanings. Focus on the feeling.
  2. 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.

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

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Positive, neutral or negative connotation?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants a character to seem ANNOYINGLY talkative.

    • A. articulate
    • B. blabbering
    • C. sociable
    • D. chatty

  2. Question 2

    Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? She is a THRIFTY shopper who always finds a bargain.

    • A. positive
    • B. neutral
    • C. negative

  3. Question 3

    Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants a child's questions to seem POSITIVE.

    • A. inquisitive
    • B. meddling
    • C. prying
    • D. nosy

  4. Question 4

    Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The meeting lasted forty minutes.

    • A. positive
    • B. neutral
    • C. negative

  5. Question 5

    Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants an old house to sound CHARMING.

    • A. shabby
    • B. quaint
    • C. run-down
    • D. dilapidated

  6. Question 6

    Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The car was PARKED outside the school.

    • A. positive
    • B. neutral
    • C. negative

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Answer key: Positive, neutral or negative connotation?

  1. 1. B. blabbering

  2. 2. A. positive

  3. 3. A. inquisitive

  4. 4. B. neutral

  5. 5. B. quaint

  6. 6. B. neutral