Table Of ContentVocabulary Collectors
Welcome!
I’ve never actually taught
Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two
Cities, but I always use its
This slide presentation will
opening paragraph as a
teach you how to create a
mentor text for teaching
successful list of antonyms antonyms and how to fix
comma splices. I have also
& synonyms based on one of
used it to inspire an original
the vocabulary words you
type of poetry for my
have collected for the week. students’ writer’s notebooks:
opposite poems.
It will also provide the criteria
for you to be able to receive
Click here for my lesson on antonyms and
full credit for your list of
comma splices. Click here for my writer’s
notebook page on opposite poems.
antonyms & synonyms.
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
You should know these two fancy words already, right?
synonym (noun) — a word or phrase antonym (noun) — a word or phrase
that means nearly the exact same that nearly or exactly means the
thing as another word or phrase. opposite as another word or phrase.
adjective form: synonymous adjective form: antonymous
Greek Roots: syn (“with”) + onym Greek Roots: anti (“against”) +
(“name”) onym (“name”)
Related words: Related words:
• synchronous = “with” + “time,” as in • pseudonym = “false” + “name,” as in
synchronous swimming. writing using a pseudonym.
• syndrome = “with” + “running,” as in • homonym = “same” + “name,” as in two,
irritable bowel syndrome (a symptom) to, and too are homonyms.
• synopsis = “with” + “view,” as in a brief • cryptonym = “hidden” + “name,” as in
synopsis of a movie or novel. the CIA uses cryptonyms or code names.
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
When you choose the synonym/antonym activity, I expect to see brain work!
synonym — a word or phrase
(noun)
that means nearly the exact same
Please note it reads word or phrase. What
thing as another word or phrase. does that mean? How big can a phrase be?
adjective form: synonymous
A phrase should be two or three words that
Greek Roots: syn (“with”) + onym work together, and…
(“name”)
…you won’t often
find phrases in
Related words:
the thesaurus.
• synchronous = “with” + “time,” as in
synchronous swimming.
So, let’s say you
• syndrome = “with” + “running,” as in
find a word like
irritable bowel syndrome (a symptom)
Nathan did with cumbersome. Would
• synopsis = “with” + “view,” as in a brief
chugging along be a synonymous or
synopsis of a movie or novel.
antonymous phrase for this word? Discuss!
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
When you choose the synonym/antonym activity, I expect to see brain work!
synonym — a word or phrase
(noun)
that means nearly the exact same
Please note it reads word or phrase. What
thing as another word or phrase. does that mean? How big can a phrase be?
Learn this as your lesson with this example:
adjective form: synonymous
Don’t become too depenAd pheranste coann b teh tweo tohr tehrseae uworrudss t!h at work
Greek Roots: syn (“with”) + onym together, and…
(“name”)
I expect to see both words and phrases …iny oyuo uwro ann’tt oofntyenm and synonym list, and
find phrases in
most thesauruses only have words. Phrases must come from your brain.
Related words:
the thesaurus.
THINK! THINK! THINK! Prove you understand the word by creating phrases!
• synchronous = “with” + “time,” as in
synchronous swimming.
So, let’s say you
• syndrome = “with” + “running,” as in
find a word like
irritable bowel syndrome (a symptom)
Nathan did with cumbersome. Would
• synopsis = “with” + “view,” as in a brief
chugging along be a synonymous or
synopsis of a movie or novel.
antonymous phrase for this word? Discuss!
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
Let’s talk about learning your parts of speech now…
antonym — a word or phrase
(noun)
If the vocabulary word you find is a noun,
that nearly or exactly means the
all antonyms and synonyms must be nouns
too! You will need to check carefully. opposite as another word or phrase.
adjective form: antonymous
That said, Alex has
two words in her
Greek Roots: anti (“against”) +
list for the verb
onym (“name”)
speculate that
break this rule.
Related words:
• pseudonym = “false” + “name,” as in
Work with a
writing under a pseudonym.
partner to find
• homonym = “same” + “name,” as in two,
the two “bad”
to, and too are homonyms.
words. What
• cryptonym = “hidden” + “name,” as in
might she have
the CIA uses cryptonyms or code names.
used instead?
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
A final rule for collecting antonyms & synonyms:
1¢ words 5¢ words 10¢ words 25¢ words 50¢ words
the big terrible condescend quadrupole
a/an nice pleasurable perilous advection
was fun experienced ensconce katabatic
and funny distasteful omnivore legerdemain
we horse harmony cynicism bursary
I sad beautiful subjugate pusillanimous
in eat miracle cacophony lutraphobia
of build flashy pivotal progeria
or win convince droll isotropic
you kitten expensive garish roorback
Do you remember the difference between the following words when we categorize them
this way? Remember, you’re supposed to be collecting 25-cent words from your readings. I
expect all antonyms and synonyms you collect to be 10-cent or 25-cent words, understand?
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
A final rule for collecting antonyms & synonyms:
10¢ words 25¢ words
terrible condescend
pleasurable perilous
experienced ensconce
distasteful omnivore
harmony cynicism
beautiful subjugate
miracle cacophony
flashy pivotal
convince droll
expensive garish
How did Mark do then? Which words (if any)
need to be pushed up to the next level? What
might you substitute in place of any 5-cent
words Mark has included here? Give Mark good advice.
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
A final rule for collecting antonyms & synonyms:
10¢ words 25¢ words
terrible condescend
pleasurable perilous
experienced ensconce
distasteful omnivore
harmony cynicism
beautiful subjugate
miracle cacophony
flashy pivotal
convince droll
expensive garish
How did Joseph do? Which words (if any)
need to be pushed up to the next level? Does
Joseph have more 10-cent or 25-cent synonyms
and antonyms in his synonym/antonym list?
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
Antonyms and Synonyms Vocabulary Rubric:
4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
The list of words The list of words The list of words The list of words
does all of these: does three of these: does two of these: does one of these:
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are all synonyms are all synonyms are all synonyms are all
spelled correctly. spelled correctly. spelled correctly. spelled correctly.
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are all the synonyms are all the synonyms are all the synonyms are all the
same part of speech. same part of speech. same part of speech. same part of speech.
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are all 10- synonyms are all 10- synonyms are all 10- synonyms are all 10-
or 25-cent words. or 25-cent words. or 25-cent words. or 25-cent words.
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are synonyms are synonyms are synonyms are
presented in a neat presented in a neat presented in a neat presented in a neat
and colorful way. and colorful way. and colorful way. and colorful way.
Click here for a printable version of this rubric for your students.
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Vocabulary Collectors
Antonyms and Synonyms Rubric:
4 points 3 points
The representation The representation
does all of these: does three of these:
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are all synonyms are all
spelled correctly. spelled correctly.
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are all the synonyms are all the
same part of speech. same part of speech.
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are all 10- synonyms are all 10-
or 25-cent words. or 25-cent words.
• The antonyms and • The antonyms and
synonyms are synonyms are
presented in a neat presented in a neat
and colorful way. and colorful way. What—if anything– kept Jacie from
earning a perfect 4 here?
Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms
Description:Meaningful writing activity = antonyms & synonyms. When you choose the synonym/antonym activity, I expect to see brain work! synonym (noun) — a
