English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
Synonyms
Vocabulary
CCSS L.3.5CCSS L.4.5.CEngland: Y3 VocabularyEngland: 11+ English (synonyms)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Synonyms.
- 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: Shades of meaning
Leads to: Antonyms; Using context clues; Prefixes and suffixes
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Shades of meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? jog, sprint, walk (jog / sprint / walk) → walkPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
- Which word is the STRONGEST? glad, happy, overjoyed (glad / happy / overjoyed) → overjoyedPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
- Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? sip, gulp, drink (sip / gulp / drink) → sipPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
Hook · 5 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Synonyms. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which word means the SAME as "scared"?
- Step 1: "scared" and "afraid" are synonyms.
- Step 2: So the answer is: afraid
- Answer: afraid
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which word means the SAME as "rich"? (wealthy / grumpy / poor / hollow) → wealthyPrompt: A synonym has the same or nearly the same meaning.
- Which word is closest in meaning to "ancient"? (timid / antique / brittle / modern) → antiquePrompt: One of the choices means the opposite. Don't be tricked!
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Choose the word that best fits the clue in brackets. We had a ___ day at the beach. (great) (wonderful / wet / dreadful / boring) → wonderfulPrompt: Read the clue in brackets carefully.
- Which word is closest in meaning to "vacant"? (occupied / fierce / gloomy / empty) → emptyPrompt: One of the choices means the opposite. Don't be tricked!
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: Shades of meaning.
- 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: Antonyms; Using context clues; Prefixes and suffixes.
- 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-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder