English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 minutes
Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs
Vocabulary
CCSS L.4.5.CEngland: Y4 Vocabulary (synonyms and antonyms)England: 11+ English (synonyms and antonyms)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs.
- 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: Synonyms; Antonyms
Leads to: Formal or informal language?; Positive or negative feeling? (thrifty or stingy)
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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Synonyms; Antonyms). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word means the SAME as "small"? (huge / loud / wide / little) → littlePrompt: A synonym has the same or nearly the same meaning.
- Which word means the OPPOSITE of "look"? (wander / float / ignore / glance) → ignorePrompt: An antonym has the opposite meaning.
- Which word is closest in meaning to "abundant"? (hostile / fragile / scarce / plentiful) → plentifulPrompt: One of the choices means the opposite. Don't be tricked!
Hook · 6 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Synonyms or antonyms? Word pairs. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Are these words synonyms or antonyms? begin / commence
- Step 1: Synonyms have similar meanings. Antonyms have opposite meanings.
- Step 2: So the answer is: synonyms (similar meaning)
- Answer: synonyms (similar meaning)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Are these words synonyms or antonyms? gloomy / cheerful (synonyms (similar meaning) / antonyms (opposite meaning)) → antonyms (opposite meaning)Prompt: Put each word in the same sentence. Does the meaning stay the same or flip?
- Which word is an ANTONYM (opposite) of "ancient"? (historic / modern / antique / old) → modernPrompt: Think of a sentence with the word in it.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which word or phrase is a SYNONYM of "exhausted"? (eager / lively / awake / worn out) → worn outPrompt: Think of a sentence with the word in it.
- Are these words synonyms or antonyms? generous / selfish (synonyms (similar meaning) / antonyms (opposite meaning)) → antonyms (opposite meaning)Prompt: Put each word in the same sentence. Does the meaning stay the same or flip?
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: Synonyms.
- 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 or informal language?; Positive or negative feeling? (thrifty or stingy).
- 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-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder