Stage 8: What Was It Like? – Synonyms
Teaching notes
© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2011

Ask the children to look at the word ‘rehearse’ on
page 1. Can anyone read it? What does it
mean? Now ask the children if they can substitute
another word (or words) in its place e.g. ‘practise’,
‘act’ or ‘run through’. Explain that words with the
same or very similar meanings are called
synonyms.

Look at the word ‘sad’ on page 6. Ask the
children to work with a partner and to think of
some synonyms for the word. Examples might be:
‘unhappy’, ‘miserable’, ‘gloomy’.

Introduce the interactive snap game to the group.
The children need to work in teams or take it in
turns to play with an opponent. As they read the
pairs of words that come up on the screen they
need to decide if they are of the same or similar
meaning – if so they need to press ‘snap’.

As a follow up activity children can complete the
synonyms sheet, selecting what they consider to be
the most appropriate word. Encourage the
children to compare their choices with a partner
discussing any slight changes to the meanings of
the sentences.
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Page 1 of 2
What Was It Like?: text © Roderick Hunt 2001; illustrations © Alex Brychta 2001. The characters in this work are the original creation of
Roderick Hunt and Alex Brychta who retain copyright in the characters. Published by arrangement with Oxford University Press.
Stage 8: What Was It Like? – Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning. Read the sentences below. Then select a word from
the synonym bank to fill the space. Use a dictionary to check the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Read the sentences below:
watched, glanced
at, viewed
Gran ........................................... the television.
The joke was so funny we began to ...........................................
The teacher ........................................ to us about our behaviour.
My friend ............................................. at me across the street.
When Mum and Dad went into the shop we ...................................... outside.
The little boy was really ............................................ when he lost his teddy.
© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2011
Pick the word that
you think best fits.
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laugh, giggle,
chuckle
chatted, spoke,
talked
shouted, yelled,
bellowed
stayed, remained,
lingered
upset, distressed,
flustered
Page 2 of 2
What Was It Like?: text © Roderick Hunt 2001; illustrations © Alex Brychta 2001. The characters in this work are the original creation of Roderick Hunt and Alex Brychta who retain copyright in the characters.
Published by arrangement with Oxford University Press.