D I F F E R E N T I AT E D I N S T R U C T I O N : V O C A B U L A R Y R O U T I N E
TM
Synonyms and Antonyms
Refer to the Vocabulary Reports in SAM for help in choosing an appropriate lesson.
Lesson for On-Grade
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Best Practices:
Set Purpose
OnGrade
Explain to students that when they encounter a new word, they can
use synonyms and antonyms they already know to help them remember its meaning.
Teach/Model
What Research Says
1 Write Synonyms and Antonyms. Explain that synonyms are words with similar
• A dictionary definition is of little
use to students if they cannot
grasp how to use the word
with the rest of their current
vocabulary. (Beck et al, 2002)
meanings, and antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Then write the following:
Example: We thought the train would be slow. However, it was so swift that we
arrived in New York earlier than we expected.
2 Explain the following steps to help students retain the meaning of swift:
How It Helps
Step 1: Point out that slow is an antonym for swift.
• Think of simpler synonyms and
antonyms for newly encountered vocabulary words.
Step 2: Swift means the opposite of slow, so swift means fast.
3 Read Aloud the following sentence and tell students you are going to show them
how you identified the antonym of float.
Example: We want our boat to float, but it may be so heavy that it will sink.
Think Aloud The text says that we want the boat to float, but it may sink. Sink is an
antonym for float. Remembering that float means the opposite of sink helps me
remember that things that float stay up, while things that sink go down.
How To Teach It
• Providing students with an
already-known synonym or
antonym for a newly learned
word will help them understand
and retain its meaning better.
4 Model how to use a graphic organizer to record synonyms and antonyms.
Example: I’m going to use this web to record synonyms or antonyms for float.
float
Synonyms
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE
LEARNERS
Antonyms
stay
up
sink
go
down
• Write a sentence on the board
containing a word that has a clear
synonym and antonym: Because
the sofa was so large, we could
not fit it through the door.
Practice/Apply
5 Provide a set of synonyms and antonyms for another vocabulary word.
6 Guide students to record these synonyms and antonyms in a graphic organizer.
• Have students read the original
sentence aloud with you. Replace
large with the synonym huge,
have students read the sentence
with you, and discuss if it still
makes sense. Then replace huge
with the antonym small and read
together again. Help students
revise the sentence to make
sense.
7 Reinforce the skill, gradually introducing more sets of synonyms and antonyms.
Differentiated Instruction for Synonyms and Antonyms
AboveGrade
Advanced Readers
• Provide students with more vocabulary
words—such as bold or afraid—and
help them come up with their own synonyms and antonyms.
BelowGrade
Far
BelowGrade
122
Teaching Synonyms and Antonyms
Below-Level Readers
• Help students write original sentences
to practice using the vocabulary words
and their synonyms and antonyms.
Copyright © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.
Teaching Synonyms
and Antonyms
DIFFERENTIATED SKILLS INSTRUCTION
Name:
Date:
TM
Smart Word Practice
Synonyms and Antonyms
STEP 1: Make Meanings With Synonyms
Use a thesaurus to find a synonym for each word below, and write the synonym in the space provided.
Then, write a sentence using the word. The first one has been done for you.
Synonym
Sentence
expedition
journey
The team of scientists
made an expedition into
the Himalayas.
ascend
climb
We watched them ascend
the stairs.
prevent
stop
The locked gate prevented
us from entering the park.
massive
huge
The massive mountain
seemed too large to climb.
ignite
burn
He saw the lightning bolt
ignite the roof of the house.
Copyright © Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.
Word
STEP 2: Identify the Antonyms
For each word in column A, choose its antonym from the words in column B. Write the letter of the
antonym in the blank provided. You might need to use a thesaurus.
A
B
b 1. enormous
a. prevent
d 2. attack
b. tiny
c 3. modern
c. ancient
a 4. allow
d. defend
e 5. expensive
e. reasonable
Resource Links
ARDI Guide: pp. 122–123
SAM Keyword: Vocab Routine
Synonyms and Antonyms 123