Vocabulary Worksheet · Grades 4–6
Slang and Standard English Worksheet
A printable vocabulary worksheet for grades 4-6 that compares slang with standard English. Students give the standard meaning of casual slang words, then sort words as slang or standard English. A complete answer key is included.
Subject
Vocabulary
Grades
Grades 4–6
Skill Focus
Slang and Standard English, word use
Lesson Length
15 minutes
Lesson Overview
About this worksheet
Good communicators match their words to the situation. Slang (‘bucks,’ ‘chill,’ ‘grub’) fits a quick text to a friend, while standard English (‘dollars,’ ‘relax,’ ‘food’) fits a report, a test, or a conversation with someone new. Learning to tell the two apart – and to translate between them – is an important register and word-use skill, not a rule that slang is wrong.
Section A gives students 8 slang words and asks them to choose the standard English meaning from three options (bucks means dollars; chill means relax; grub means food). Section B lists 6 words and asks students to label each one Slang or Standard English (ain’t, y’all, and pooped versus children, exhausted, and purchase).
The reference box at the top of page 1 defines slang and standard English and walks through two worked examples, gonna -> going to and wanna -> want to, that never appear in the assessed items. Page 2 is a complete answer key in compact format with the standard meaning for each Section A word and the Slang/Standard label for each Section B word.
How to Use This Lesson
Read the reference box aloud and ask students for a slang word they use with friends but not in a school report.
Work Section A independently; remind students that slang often has a different literal meaning too (a ‘flick’ can be a snap of the finger).
Move to Section B and discuss why ‘exhausted’ fits a report better than ‘pooped.’
Use the answer key on page 2 for self-check or aide spot-check.
Pair with the Jargon Worksheet or Euphemisms Worksheet for more word-use and register practice.
Printable Resource
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Full Member Resource · Printable PDF · 2 pages · Answer Key
Slang and Standard English Worksheet
A printable vocabulary worksheet for grades 4-6 that compares slang with standard English. Students give the standard meaning of casual slang words, then sort words as slang or standard English. A complete answer key is included.
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