Word Map: Synonyms and Antonyms

From FreeReading

What to Do

Prepare

Print out a copy of the Word Map: Synonyms and Antonyms graphic organizer for each student in the class. Create a large version of the Word Map on chart paper to model the activity. Use the chart paper or the board to display vocabulary words with their meanings.

Model/Instruct

1. Review the vocabulary words you wish to cover with the class.

2. Model how to use the graphic organizer. Involve your students as you explain, filling out the Word Map as they respond to your questions.

Today, we will learn more about our new vocabulary words by completing a word map.

Who can remember one of the new vocabulary words we learned? Who can tell us the meaning of this word? Who thinks they can draw a picture of this word? Who can provide a synonym of the vocabulary word? Who can provide an antonym of the vocabulary word? Who can use this word in a sentence?

Call on students to share their ideas.

Practice

3. Have the students complete the Word Map on their own. Students can complete graphic organizers for the same word or be assigned different words to work on in pairs or groups.

Now it’s your turn to complete a Word Map for a vocabulary word. Remember to complete each part.

4. Walk around to monitor the students’ performance. As a wrap-up, have volunteers share their work.

Adjust

For Advanced Students:

After they have finished, allow these students to look up the vocabulary word in a dictionary. Ask them to compare their definitions and the dictionary definition.

For Struggling Students:

Give students who need extra help the chance to work with a partner.

For ELL Students:

For ELL students, you may need to provide extra support with the concepts of synonyms and antonyms. Ask them to find synonyms and antonyms of familiar words before completing the Word Map for a new vocabulary word.

Related activities

• All Vocabulary Activities