Tools for Instruction
Understand Synonyms
Synonyms are words that are very close in meaning. Understanding the relationships between words improves
students’ comprehension and helps them make more deliberate choices in their speaking and writing. Still,
it may not be easy for students to recognize subtle differences between similar concepts. To help students
understand that not all synonyms are interchangeable, explain that a word can have both a denotation—a literal
meaning, and a connotation—a feeling associated with it. Each of these can affect its meaning. Guide them in
analyzing these features in order to use precise language.
Three Ways to Teach
Choose Precise Words 10–15 minutes
Say, Synonyms are words with the same or almost the same meanings. Display familiar synonyms. These could be
common words or words drawn from a current text. Work with students to brainstorm additional synonyms. As
you record them, stop to give a quick, simple explanation of any words that students do not know.
Word
big
worried
teach
fit
pretty
thin
Synonym
enormous
anxious
coach
healthy
beautiful
skinny
Additional Synonyms
huge, giant, immense, gigantic, vast
concerned, apprehensive, uneasy, nervous
instruct, train, educate
robust, active, strong
cute, lovely, gorgeous, attractive
slim, slender, lean, gaunt, scrawny
Say, Some of these words have different literal meanings, and some suggest different feelings or describe the same
thing to different degrees. To demonstrate the concept, ask questions such as these:
• Which is larger, a big mountain or an enormous mountain?
• Is it more complimentary to say someone is thin or that they’re scrawny?
•If you have just recovered from a cold, would you be healthy or fit?
For independent practice, have students choose a pair of synonyms from the list and write one sentence using
both words. Encourage them to write in a way that reflects the unique meanings of each word.
I was nervous about catching the bus on time, but I was uneasy because I hadn’t studied for the test.
Have partners discuss their sentences. Guide them to ask, Do the synonyms have different meanings? How are the
meanings different?
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Vocabulary I Levels 6–8 I Understand Synonyms I Page 1 of 3
i-Ready Tools for Instruction
Substitute Synonyms to Change Meaning 20–30 minutes
To help students understand that similar words are not always interchangeable, work together to examine how
substituting synonyms can change the meaning of a sentence.
• Write and display a sentence that uses a word with several synonyms. Underline the word.
• Explain the meaning of the underlined word. Then have students use a thesaurus to list synonyms.
Sarah found dance lessons difficult, but she succeeded because she was persistent.
Explanation A persistent person keeps doing something even if it would be easier to stop.
Possible Synonyms determined, stubborn, patient, inflexible, pigheaded, continuous, and uninterrupted.
• Have small groups rewrite the sentence, substituting various synonyms for the underlined word. Ask them
to mark each sentence with a check if it sounds positive, an X if it sounds negative, and a question mark if it
no longer makes sense.
• As a class, read aloud and discuss the new sentences. If students disagree about how to classify a sentence,
talk about the reasons. Work to come to a shared opinion.
Write a Diamante 20–30 minutes
Connect to Writing  A diamante is a seven-line, diamond-shaped poem, based on two synonyms. In a
diamante, each line includes specific types of words. Copy and distribute Synonym Diamante (page 3). Discuss
the model and the rules for writing a synonym diamante, and then challenge students to write their own.
Check for Understanding
If you observe...
difficulty understanding that two synonyms have
different shades of meaning
Then try...
using each word in ways that emphasize their
differences.
• I was pleased that you liked my gift.
• I was thrilled to hear that I won the contest.
Say, Being thrilled is a more powerful emotion than being
pleased.
choosing inappropriate synonyms for a particular
context
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talking about how the synonym changes the meaning
of the sentence as a whole. Help students determine
the intended meaning for the sentence, and use a
resource to choose a more appropriate synonym.
Vocabulary I Levels 6–8 I Understand Synonyms I Page 2 of 3
i-Ready Tools for Instruction
Name
Synonym Diamante
Title
A Model of a Synonym Diamante
Line 1
Friend
Line 2
Warm, Cheerful
Line 3
Line 4
Line 5
Playing, Relaxing, Sharing
Birthdays, Fun, Memories, Love
Encouraging, Listening, Understanding
Line 6
Honest, Loyal
Line 7
Confidant
How to Write a Synonym Diamante
Line 1
Synonym #1
Line 2
Two adjectives describing Synonym #1
Line 3
Line 4
Line 5
Three -ing verbs describing Synonym #1
Four nouns relating to Synonyms #1 and #2
Two adjectives describing Synonym #2
Line 6
Three -ing verbs describing Synonym #2
Line 7
Synonym #2
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Vocabulary I Levels 6–8 I Understand Synonyms I Page 3 of 3