Michelle Crain
Due: April 29. 2009
EDBE 3470.001
Synonym lesson plan- 3rd grade ESL

Lesson Plan title: Synonyms

Concept / Topic to teach: Synonyms and how to use them.

Standards Addressed:
TEKS: Elementary ESL 128.5 (a) 1, (b) 3.8D, 3.16H, 3.21E, 4.26E, and 5.26E

General Goal(s):
Students will be able to demonstrate and improve basic reading and writing skills,
including reading comprehension and meanings.

Specific Objectives:
The children will learn what a synonym is. By the end of the lesson, they will recognize
synonyms for specific words and be able to use them to make their writing more
interesting.

Required Materials:
Worksheets attached for use in class
Synonym Pairs- Record pairs of synonyms on index cards, one per card. There should be
enough for each student to have one index card.

Anticipatory Set (Lead-In):
At the beginning of the lesson, we will read the following paragraph together:
I had a great weekend! The weather was great. I went with my friends to a great birthday
party. We had a great time. What great food they had! The music was great too. I hope
next week is just as great!
Follow up by asking the children what they think about the paragraph. Also ask, what
might make it more interesting?

Step-By-Step Procedures:
After learning about what a synonym is, we will play a game called Synonym Pairs. Each
child will have a flashcard with a word on it. Another child in the class will have a
flashcard with the synonym belonging to that word. The challenge is to find the classmate
who has the matching synonym card. When everyone has found their partner, the pair will
read their synonyms to the class. The class then tries to think of more synonyms that go
with the words on the flashcards.

Adaptations (For Students With Learning Disabilities) for at home:
Students who are not yet performing at the level of the class will work on the worksheet
Synonyms. They will read each sentence and circle the word in parentheses that has
almost the same meaning as the underlined word in the sentence. If they can think of
another synonym for the underlined word, they can write it in the blank line. Parents can
help by explaining what all the words mean, or helping the student look the words up in a
dictionary together.

Extensions (For Gifted Students) for at home:
Students who are ahead of the class will work on the worksheet Synonyms: Words with
Similar Meanings that is attached. They will read the sentence and find a word in the box
that is a synonym for the italicized words. Parents can help by putting the word choices
into sentences so the students can understand what they mean. They can also help
students look unknown words up in a dictionary together.

Plan for at home practice:
Parents can make their own ‘Concentration’ game at home. Parents write the words and
their synonyms on different index cards and have the child match the word and its
synonym, like we did in class. Parents can then discuss each word and have the child use
it and write it in a sentence. Students can bring back sentences for extra credit.
Example synonyms:
Talk/speak
Touch/feel
Loud/noisy
Branch/twig/stick
Message/note/letter
Happy/glad/joyful
(Used with Permission from LessonPlansPage.com, http://www.tlsbooks.com/synonyms.pdf,
http://www.highlightsteachers.com, and http://bogglesworldesl.com/synonym_worksheets.htm)
Name: _______________
Synonyms
A synonym is a word that has almost the same meaning as another word.
Read each sentence and circle the word in parentheses that has almost
the same meaning as the underlined word.
Can you think of another synonym for the underlined word? If so, write it on
the line.
1. Many people enjoy holidays.
(like, need, hate) ____________________
2. I really admire my music teacher.
(respect, dislike, recommend) ____________________
3. Jesse James was a notorious outlaw.
(humble, famous, cheap) ____________________
4. He dresses in the most modern fashions.
(handsome, out-dated, current) ____________________
5. Some people like to sleep on the bus.
(snooze, talk, rest) ____________________
6. I am responsible for my actions.
(accountable, known, reasonable) ____________________
7. You are a very remarkable person.
(ungrateful, outstanding, selfish) ____________________
8. This is a magnificent story you have written.
(horrible, huge, great) ____________________
9. He has a keen sense of humor.
(sharp, funny, tasteless) ____________________
Copyright © 1991, 2007 T. Smith Publishing. All rights reserved.
www.tlsbooks.com
Use the words in the box to find synonyms for the italicized words:
quick
leave
come
allow
angry
thin
wet
expensive
go down
stop
buy
fix
My clothes are still damp so I’ll have to wait for them to dry.
(1)
They are starting to descend the mountain.
(2)
He was furious when he saw the damage to the car.
(3)
I want to become slim so I am going on a diet.
(4)
Do you know what time she is planning to arrive?
(5)
I can smell smoke. The fire must be close.
(6)
It will take me a while to repair your flat tire.
(7)
What did you purchase at the store?
(8)
He is a dangerous foe.
(9)
The answer is correct.
(10)
His mom didn’t let him go.
(11)
Let’s hurry! The train is going to depart in five minutes.
(12)
It was too costly so I didn’t buy it.
(13)
He didn’t halt his bad behaviour so he got kicked out of school.
(14)
People were angry because of the rapid increase in prices.
(15)
© 2007 www.bogglesworldesl.com
enemy
near
right