Year 6 · SPaG · Spring: Vocabulary
Year 6 synonyms worksheet and PowerPoint
To recognise synonyms, to choose the best synonym for a sentence, and to understand shades of meaning.
Synonyms
Synonyms are words with a similar meaning. A good writer chooses the synonym that fits best, because some are stronger, weaker or more formal than others.
| similar meaning | big, large, huge, enormous |
|---|---|
| shades of meaning | cool → cold → freezing (they get stronger) |
| formal or informal | start (everyday) → commence (formal) |
| a thesaurus | a book or website that lists synonyms |
Examples
- The house was big. → The house was enormous.
- She walked home. → She trudged home.
Key words
- synonym
- a word with a similar meaning to another
- thesaurus
- a book of words grouped by meaning
- shade of meaning
- a small difference in strength or feeling
- context
- the words around a word that help show its meaning
What is on the worksheet
Every sheet for this lesson has a short teaching box and 12 questions that get gradually harder: 8 fluency questions, then 4 reasoning questions that ask pupils to explain or choose. A writing challenge follows. The questions use the same styles as the key stage 2 grammar and punctuation test (circle, underline, tick, fill the gap, add punctuation, rewrite, explain). They are written for this website, not copied from past papers.
All the answers are on the last page of the same editable Word file. New questions are made every time, so you can print a different sheet for every group or for homework. The same sheet code always gives the same sheet.
Writing challenge: Write the first paragraph of a story about a storm without using the words big, said, or went. Use a thesaurus to find stronger words.
Pupil target: I can find and choose synonyms.
The PowerPoint
A 20-slide lesson deck for the same lesson: a starter that revisits earlier learning, key words, an I do and a You do question on each slide with a countdown timer, answers that appear one click at a time, and a challenge. Download the synonyms PowerPoint.
Where this lesson fits
This is lesson 48 of 72 in the Year 6 SPaG scheme, in the Spring term, block “Vocabulary”. It is taught before the SATs grammar test in May.
Other lessons in this block
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