Vocabulary Builders: Synonyms

and Antonyms
Fifth Grade Writing

by Sarah Sumnicht November 11, 2018

In this engaging vocabulary lesson plan, students will learn to use a thesaurus to generate interesting synonyms
and antonyms for several target words. Then, they will get up and mingle with their classmates with a synonym
matching game!

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to generate synonyms and antonyms for target words.

Materials and preparation Key terms

One copy of Synonym Memory Game, cut into antonym

individual cards synonym
Class set of Build Your Vocabulary with thesaurus
Synonyms and Antonyms
One sheet of paper per pair of students
Class set of a student thesaurus
Personal whiteboards for students (or
notebooks)
Document camera
Video projector
Class set of Vocabulary Builder: Adjectives
(optional)
Class set of Writing Resources (optional)

Attachments

Synonym Memory Game (PDF)

Build Vocabulary with Synonyms and Antonyms (PDF)
Synonyms for Smart (PDF)
Writing Resources (PDF)

Introduction (5 minutes)

Draw a circle on the board with the word "big" inside. This is the start of a word web.
In blue, draw a line out from the center circle and write the word "large."
Ask students to call out other words that have a similar meaning to the word "big." Branch out from the
center circle, and write their answers in blue.
Remind students that words that have similar meanings are called synonyms. Write the definition on the
board in blue.
In red, draw a line out from the center circle and write the word "small."
Ask students to call out other words with meanings that are opposite of "big." Branch out from the center
circle and write their answers in red.
Remind students that words with opposite meanings are called antonyms. Write the definition on the
board in red.

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Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (10 minutes)

Explain that synonyms and antonyms can help us build our vocabulary.
They can help us understand the meaning of an unfamiliar word. For example, if we know that
"big" is a synonym of "colossal," then we understand what "colossal" means. (Add "colossal" to the
word web in blue.) Or, if we know that "diminutive" is an antonym for "big", we understand that it
must mean "small." (Add "diminutive" to the word web in red.)
They can help us make our writing more interesting. For example, instead of saying, "The big dog
chewed on a big bone," we might replace the word "big" with a synonym and say, "The large dog
chewed on a colossal bone."
Remind students that synonyms have similar meanings, but each word may have slightly different
connotations. For example, "colossal" means "extremely big" so it would be appropriate when describing
a blue whale but not when describing your biggest pencil.
Use a document camera to show students how to use a thesaurus.
Remind students that a thesaurus is a tool that lists synonyms and antonyms for words.
Choose a word to look up, like "big."
Tell students that words are listed alphabetically, so they can search for it like they would in a
dictionary.
Point out the target word ("big") and direct students' attention to the words that are listed
alongside the target word.
Explain that, depending on the thesaurus you use, there will be many synonyms, but only one or
two antonyms.
Tell students that, to find more antonyms, they can look for synonyms of a known antonym. For
example, to find more antonyms for "big," they could look for synonyms of "small."
Remind students to be careful when choosing a synonym to replace their target word. If they are
not sure about the specific meaning of a synonym, they should use a dictionary to find the
definition of the synonym (remind them of the example: "colossal" vs. "big").

Guided Practice (15 minutes)

Hand out cards from the Synonym Memory Game so that each student receives one card.
Play a mingle game with the cards: Have students walk around the room looking for someone who has a
synonym for the word on their card.
When they find their synonym partner, instruct them to pick up a thesaurus and a blank piece of paper.
Then direct them to sit with their partner. (Note: each pair of students will need only one thesaurus and
one piece of paper.)
Tell students to choose one of the words on their synonym cards and use the thesaurus to make a word
web with their partner.
Remind students to include synonyms and antonyms on their word web, like the example word web from
earlier in the lesson.

Independent working time (10 minutes)

Hand out the worksheet Build Your Vocabulary with Synonyms and Antonyms.
Instruct students to complete the worksheet independently.
Circulate and offer support as needed.

Related books and/or media

SONG: A Smile and a Frown by Grammaropolis

Differentiation

Support:

Have students look up the word on their card prior to the mingle game. Tell them to write the definition
and/or several synonyms on the back of the card before looking for their synonym partner.
Allow students to use a dictionary and/or thesaurus during independent practice.

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 Review dictionary and thesaurus basics with the worksheet Writing Resources (see optional materials).
In lieu of the independent practice worksheet, have students focus on synonyms for just one target word,
like "smart" (see optional materials).

Enrichment:

Allow students to play the synonym memory game during word work time in class.
Have students look back at a piece of their own writing and replace boring words, like "happy" or "big,"
with more interesting synonyms.

Assessment (5 minutes)

On the board, write a target word, like "happy."

Instruct students to write a synonym and an antonym for the target word on their personal whiteboard
(i.e., "joyful," "sad").
Have students hold up their whiteboards and scan their answers to gauge understanding.
Call on a student to read their synonym out loud. Then call on a student to read their antonym.
Repeat with several target words, like "young", "slow," and "dark."

Review and closing (5 minutes)

Play a song for students to review the concepts that were covered in the lesson, like "A Smile and a
Frown" by Grammaropolis (see related media).

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Name: Date:

Synonym Memory Game

Cut out the cards and mix them up. Place cards face down and play “Memory” to find
synonym matches. The player with the most pairs wins!

lead permit smell

guide allow odor

enemy friend damp

foe comrade wet

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Synonym Memory Game

Cut out the cards and mix them up. Place cards face down and play “Memory” to find
synonym matches. The player with the most pairs wins!

dry considerate error

arid thoughtful mistake

brisk humiliate praise

quick embarrass compliment

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 Build your Vocabulary with
Synonyms and Antonyms
Name: __________________________________ Date: ________________________

A) Draw a line to match each word to its synonym (a word with the same or similar meaning) and
antonym (a word with the opposite meaning).
Synonym Antonym
estimate argue invigorated

quarrel guess searing

elated tired enormous

frigid happy agree

fatigued small calculate

miniature cold sorrowful

B) Write three synonyms for each of the words below.

big gigantic
laugh
bad

C) Fill in the blanks with antonyms to complete the story.

opposite
In Backwards World, everything is the ___________________ as it is here on Earth. The
same
____________________ comes up every morning and the sun comes up every night. People feel
sun
___________________ about holidays and everyone ________________________ ice cream. In
excited loves
Backwards World, people are____________________ with their neighbors and everyone says
friendly
______________________ when they see friends in town. Families have _______________________
hello dinner
together and then spend the evening _________________ as they watch their favorite TV show. When
laughing
it’s time for bed, all the children in Backwards World _____________________ their eyes and dream
close
about how ________________________ things must be on planet Earth.
similar
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 Vocabulary Builder: Adjectives
Adjectives are used to describe nouns (a person, place or thing).
Using colorful, vivid and descriptive words makes your writing more interesting and accurate.

Complete the sentences by using these words that are synonyms for

Smart

intelligent shrewd nimble acute

brilliant sharp resourceful effective
alert quick-witted crafty ingenious
bright astute canny knowing
wise clever brainy apt
genius keen adept capable

1. Dolphins and chimpanzees are the most ___________________ of all mammals.

2. Grandfather was an old and _________________ man who gave excellent advice.

3. Albert Einstein is known as the most ____________________ scientist of his time.

4. The ______________________ fox snuck into the hen house undiscovered.

5. Alice was a/an ____________________ student who got straight A‛s every year.

6. An owl perched in the tree, peering at me with _____________________ eyes.

Write two sentences using words from the box above.

1. ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

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Tip : Most resources are organized in alphabetical order from A to Z.

Alphabetize by the 1st letter in the word. Example : dinosaur, gigantic, vegetable
If the 1st letters are the same, use the 2 nd letters. Example : dinosaur, dog
If the 2 nd letters are the same, use the 3rd, and so on. Example : dinosaur, disregard

Rewrite each list so the words are in alphabetical order.

1. 2. 3.
wither gorge function
remorse waddle fruitful
bizarre golden fudge
built utter freight
realm gallon fumble
wilt ward fumigate

A Few Resources :
A dictionary tells the meaning(s), part of speech, origin, and the pronunciation of words.
A thesaurus will help you find other words to communicate your message.
An encyclopedia is a resource that includes several volumes of information on various topics.
The Internet is a resource that offers past and current information on a wide range of topics.

Which resource would you use? Answer the following questions.

4. Where would you look up another word for alleviate?
5. Where would you look up today’s news update?
6. Where would you find the definition of the word noble?
7. Where might you find more information about Italy?
8. Where can you find the original meaning of curfew?
9. Where would you find a synonym for the word assist?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________

Tip: Tip:
Be cautious of what Plagiarism, or copying the
you read. Check a few writing of others, is illegal. Use your
different sources own words and tell where you
for accuracy. got the information.

Using resources to find information

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