Vocabulary Lesson Plan · Grades 2-4
Synonyms Lesson
Synonyms are words with the same meaning. This elementary vocabulary lesson explains synonyms with classroom examples, walks students through four practice sentences, and includes a printable worksheet and answer key.
Subject
Vocabulary
Grades
2 – 4
Skill Focus
Synonyms, word meaning, vocabulary development
Lesson Length
30 – 45 minutes
Lesson
About Synonyms
Synonyms are words with the same meaning. We use synonyms to make a sentence more interesting. Repeating one word can make reading boring. This is why synonyms are used.
For example: The cat is large. The cat is big.
Big and large are synonyms. The words mean the same thing. When writing a sentence we can replace a word with its synonym.
Look at this sentence: We played with the kids.
The word kids has more than one synonym. Can you think of one?
If you said children, then you are correct! You might also say family if the kids were from the same family.
Practice Finding Synonyms
Read each sentence. What is a synonym for the word in bold?
• The boat moved out to sea.
• Sue swam in the creek.
• Mary is a pretty girl.
• I am so mad!
Now Check Your Answers
Compare your answers – the original lesson uses these synonyms:
• The ship moved out to sea.
• Sue swam in the brook.
• Mary is a beautiful girl.
• I am so angry!
Using a Thesaurus
To find synonyms you can use a thesaurus. This book is similar to a dictionary, but it only shows synonyms – it does not show definitions.
Are you ready to find synonyms on your own? Download the printable worksheet below for twelve more practice items and a teacher answer key.
Printable Worksheet
Full Member resource – sign in to download the printable synonyms worksheet with student practice and answer key.
Full Member Resource · Printable PDF
Printable Synonyms Worksheet
Faithful reproduction of the original InstructorWeb synonyms worksheet (2 pages: student worksheet and answer key). Available to Full Member accounts. Sign in to download.
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Want teaching strategies for this lesson?
Read: Teaching Synonyms and Antonyms
How to teach synonyms and antonyms without producing wooden writing: shades-of-meaning lineups, the perfectly-opposite test, prefix antonyms, and a 5-day mini-unit.