resident (noun)
As a resident of Minnesota, he played “Duck Duck Gray Duck” as a child.
Residents of other states play the same game, but call it “Duck Duck Goose”.
A denizen is an inhabitant of a certain place or region.
Synonyms
occupant, denizen, citizen, dweller
 Antonyms
visitor, stranger
Writing Prompt
Choose 3 geographical regions, such as the ocean, the forest, the jungle, the
desert, the plains, or the arctic. Brainstorm a list of creatures that live in
these 3 places and list 5 animals in each region. You can make a bubble
map if you wish, or a tree map.
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conundrum (noun)
This is such a confusing conundrum; I doubt we’ll ever
solve it.
A conundrum is a puzzling question, problem, or riddle.
Synonyms
mystery, challenge, enigma, puzzle
 Antonyms
solution, answer
Writing Prompt
January 29 is National Puzzle Day. To mark this event, write your favorite
conundrum but don’t give the answer. Trade conundrums with a neighbor and
talk about the solutions together.
preside (verb)
It was Lincoln’s misfortune—on his path to greatness—to preside over a nation
at war with itself.
To preside means to hold a position of authority or control, to
be in charge.
Synonyms
hold the reins, lead, direct, run
 Antonyms
follow
Writing Prompt
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Kentucky. He was the 16th
president of the United States. To preside over any nation is a hard enough job,
but Lincoln had to lead the nation that was fighting a terrible civil war. Write a
poem to honor Abraham Lincoln. Gather facts and details from the article
provided in class.
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innovation (noun)
The electric light bulb was an innovation that improved people’s lives.
An innovation is a change made in the usual way of doing
things.
Synonyms
advance, improvement, novelty
 Antonyms
decline, retreat
Writing Prompt
The American master of innovation, Thomas Alva Edison
was born on February 11, 1847. Edison invented more
than 1,000 new objects and gadgets that modernized our
lives, such as the voting machine, stock ticker, and
phonograph, and improved parts of the camera and the
telephone. Write about an innovation that has
improved your life.
passionate (adjective)
Valentine’s Day can turn a person into an ardent fan of mushy sentiment.
Ardent means enthusiastic, eager, or full of positive emotion.
Synonyms
ardent, devoted, keen
 Antonyms
halfhearted, indifferent
Writing Prompt
On Valentine’s Day (February 14), people around
the world express their passionate feelings for one
another. They express their emotions with hearts,
flowers, songs, candy, gifts, and hugs and kisses.
Write a letter to someone you care about—a
friend, a family member, a pet, or an idol. Express
your feeling for that person. Be honest. Be
passionate.
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persnickety (adjective)
The persnickety queen demanded that her roses be grown in perfect rows.
Persnickety means extremely fussy and hard to please.
Synonyms
fussy, fastidious, choosy
 Antonyms
easygoing, carefree
Writing Prompt
We all prefer to have things just the way we like them, but a persnickety person
is never satisfied until everything is just so. What are you persnickety about?
What persnickety people have you met? Write a funny story about a
persnickety character.
mellifluous (adjective)
I love the mellifluous sound of the bamboo flute.
Mellifluous means sweetly or smoothly flowing.
Synonyms
honeyed, sweet-sounding
 Antonyms
harsh
Writing Prompt
March is Music in Our Schools Month. Write
about the instrument or the voice that is
the most mellifluous to you. Use vivid
words to describe the rich and lovely sounds
you hear. You might try to include some
comparison: “as bright as…” or “as soothing
as…”
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askew (adjective)
The gusty winds blew the banners and flags all askew.
Askew means turned or twisted the wrong way, off to one side,
or not straight.
Synonyms
awry, crooked, lopsided, slanted
 Antonyms
straight, true, aligned, centered
Writing Prompt
March is known for its winds, which can easily blow things askew. Write a
poem in which something or someone is knocked askew. Draw a picture to
accompany your poem.
meager (adjective)
In winter, many animals struggle with meager food supplies.
Scant means barely enough or not quite full. Scant also means
not enough in size or quantity, slightly less than is needed.
Synonyms
scant, poor, bare, limited, scarce
 Antonyms
plentiful, abundant, a lot
Writing Prompt
In many parts of the world, people as well as animals struggle
with meager food supplies. In our own community, the food
shelves struggle most during the summer months when more
kids are eating at home. Something like 75% of the total food
shelf recipients are children. Create a poster describing the
challenge of keeping food shelves stocked during the
summer months. On your poster, create an event, fundraiser
or food drive to remedy the meager food shelf supplies.
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knack (noun)
Some inventors have a knack for making simple gadgets that are easy to use.
A knack is a special skill, flair, or power to do something easily.
Synonyms
aptitude, talent, gift, skill, strength
 Antonyms
lack, inability, weakness
Writing Prompt
On March 13, 1887, Chester Greenwood of Maine got a patent for a clever
invention—earmuffs! He was only fifteen when he got the idea that made him
famous. Greenwood had a knack for making things to improve people’s lives.
He also invented the whistling teakettle and a better mousetrap. What do you
have a knack for? Are you a good artist? Are you talented with pets? Does math
come easily for you? Write a paragraph about a knack you have.
triskaidekaphobia (noun)
Whoever built this 40-story building must have triskaidekaphobia because the
building doesn’t have a 13th floor!
Triskaidekaphobia is a great fear of the number thirteen.
Writing
Prompt
Some people regard thirteen
as a lucky number. Others,
especially those who have
triskaidekaphobia, are sure
thirteen will only bring bad
luck. Write a story about
thirteen—either lucky or
unlucky, as you wish.
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xenophobia (noun)
Xenophobia has long been a cause of wars and cultural misunderstandings.
Xenophobia is the fear or dislike of strangers or foreigners.
Synonyms
racism, chauvinism
 Antonyms
tolerance
Writing Prompt
On November 8, 1895, German physicist Wilheim Roentgen discovered X-rays.
To mark this scientific advance, learn a new word that starts with “X”!
Xenophobia comes from the Greek word xenos, which means “stranger,” and
phobos, which means “fear of.” Write an editorial explaining why people should
not give in to xenophobia.