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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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 a strong smell? (pungent / smelly / reeking / fragrant) → fragrantPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
  2. Read the question and choose. Which word has the most POSITIVE connotation for someone who saves money? (stingy / cheap / thrifty / mean) → thriftyPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.
  3. Read the question and choose. Which word has the most NEGATIVE connotation for someone who talks a lot? (outgoing / sociable / chatterbox / talkative) → chatterboxPrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling a word carries.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 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.
  1. Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The group of fans GATHERED to cheer. (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 readers to ADMIRE a character who saves money. (miserly / stingy / thrifty / tight-fisted) → thriftyPrompt: All the choices have similar dictionary meanings. Focus on the feeling.

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.
  1. Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The library was full of CURIOUS young readers. (positive / neutral / negative) → positivePrompt: Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling the word carries.
  2. Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants a smile to seem UNFRIENDLY. (twinkle / grin / beam / smirk) → smirkPrompt: All the choices have similar dictionary meanings. Focus on the feeling.

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

eurekami

Positive, neutral or negative connotation?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants readers to ADMIRE a character who saves money.

    • A. miserly
    • B. tight-fisted
    • C. stingy
    • D. thrifty

  2. Question 2

    Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The DECREPIT shed was falling apart.

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

  3. Question 3

    Which word should the writer choose? A writer wants a smell to seem DISGUSTING.

    • A. scent
    • B. stench
    • C. aroma
    • D. fragrance

  4. Question 4

    Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? Our neighbour is very NOSY about everyone's business.

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

  5. Question 5

    Which word should the writer choose? A review wants a meal to sound APPEALING.

    • A. reeking
    • B. pungent
    • C. aromatic
    • D. smelly

  6. Question 6

    Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The new teacher was ASSERTIVE and clear about the rules.

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

  7. Question 7

    Does the word in capitals have a positive, neutral or negative connotation here? The group of fans GATHERED to cheer.

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

  8. Question 8

    Which word should the writer choose? A brochure wants a small flat to sound ATTRACTIVE.

    • A. compact
    • B. pokey
    • C. cramped
    • D. tiny

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Answer key: Positive, neutral or negative connotation?

  1. 1. D. thrifty

  2. 2. C. negative

  3. 3. B. stench

  4. 4. C. negative

  5. 5. C. aromatic

  6. 6. A. positive

  7. 7. B. neutral

  8. 8. A. compact