English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 60 minutes
Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant…
Vocabulary
CCSS L.11-12.4.ACCSS L.11-12.6England: SAT Reading and Writing (Words in Context)England: AP LanguageEngland: A-level English
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant….
- 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: High-utility SAT words (set B): anomaly, empirical, salient…
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
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 (High-utility SAT words (set B): anomaly, empirical, salient…). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word matches this description? open to more than one interpretation; unclear (equivocal / proliferate / resilient / inherent) → equivocalPrompt: Use roots: em-pirical (experience), pro-liferate (multiply), im-partial (not taking part).
- Type the word (in English) that matches this description. having no useful result → futilePrompt: Use roots: em-pirical (experience), pro-liferate (multiply), im-partial (not taking part).
- Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word? The most ___ feature of the data is the sharp drop in 2008. (inherent / impartial / salient / futile) → salientPrompt: Underline the words that explain or contrast with the gap.
Hook · 6 min
- Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
- Share the objective: Advanced words in context (set C): belie, capricious, tacit, trenchant…. 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: Which word matches this description? optimistic, especially in a difficult situation
- Step 1: Sophisticated vocabulary lets you describe ideas, people and arguments precisely.
- Step 2: sanguine: optimistic, especially in a difficult situation
- Step 3: So the answer is: sanguine
- Answer: sanguine
- 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.
- Which word matches this description? seeming reasonable but actually wrong (trenchant / disparage / enigmatic / specious) → speciousPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).
- Type the word (in English) that matches this description. understood without being stated → tacitPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).
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 matches this description? not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily (circumvent / reticent / esoteric / capricious) → reticentPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).
- Type the word (in English) that matches this description. sharp, vigorous and clear in expression → trenchantPrompt: Use any root you recognise: circum- (around), dis- (apart, down), ob- (against, in the way).
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: High-utility SAT words (set B): anomaly, empirical, salient….
- 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
- 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-12.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder