English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes
Connotation and denotation
Vocabulary
CCSS L.6.5.CCCSS L.7.5.CEngland: KS3 VocabularyEngland: GCSE English Language (language analysis)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Connotation and denotation.
- 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; Synonyms
Leads to: Choosing precise words; Advanced diction and nuance; Positive, neutral or negative connotation?
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; Synonyms). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word is the STRONGEST? sprint, walk, jog (sprint / walk / jog) → sprintPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
- Which word means the SAME as "big"? (tiny / soft / quick / large) → largePrompt: A synonym has the same or nearly the same meaning.
- Which word is the WEAKEST (least strong)? microscopic, tiny, small (microscopic / tiny / small) → smallPrompt: 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: Connotation and denotation. 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: Read the question and choose. Which word has the most NEGATIVE connotation for an old building?
- Step 1: Words with similar meanings can carry positive, neutral or negative feelings.
- Step 2: So the answer is: decrepit
- Answer: decrepit
- 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.
- Read the question and choose. Which word has the most NEGATIVE connotation for someone who talks a lot? (chatterbox / talkative / outgoing / sociable) → chatterboxPrompt: 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 thin? (slender / scrawny / bony / skinny) → slenderPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
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.
- Read the question and choose. Which word has the most POSITIVE connotation for someone who saves money? (thrifty / cheap / mean / stingy) → thriftyPrompt: 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 someone who is curious? (nosy / eager to learn / interested / inquisitive) → nosyPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a 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: 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: Choosing precise words; Advanced diction and nuance; Positive, neutral or negative connotation?.
- 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