Do you need a variety when teaching synonyms and antonyms (opposites)? Here's a creative way you've been looking for! Use 11 activities for early finishers, center work or whole class. This resource can be easily used as test prep.
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What results do teachers see after using these activities?
- "Wow, this was a lot more than I expected! I love how the cards are grouped by parts of speech and that you included several games! The synonym scroll game is so creative and fun!" - Sarah B.
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What does this set include?
The packet has 360 words for 2 levels of difficulty.
- Level 1 cards can be used with grades 2-5 during ELA lessons (L.4.5C, L.5.5C) or children / teenagers / adults of Beginning level during EFL / ESL lessons.
- Level 2 cards can be used with grades 5-7 during ELA lessons or children / teenagers / adults of Intermediate level during EFL / ESL lessons. The cards are divided into categories: adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs.
How to use the set?
Synonyms Scrolls
Variant #1. Divide students in pairs, ask them to stand up (adults may sit at the table). Give each pair one scroll and say “start”. A student from a pair should look at the 1st word and give a synonym to it. If his partner thinks the synonym is correct, the first student can roll the 1st word. And now it’s the turn of the other student in the pair to give a synonym to his first word. The first pair to finish the activity wins.
The photo above is the photo of my lesson with adults. They had fun using scrolls and practicing synonyms.
More variants to use scrolls!
- Variant #2. You may switch the scrolls among pairs and continue the activity.
- Variant #3. You can ask students to give antonyms for the given words.
- Variant #4. You can ask students to give definitions for the given words.
- Variant #5. You can ask students to create a sentence with one word.
- Variant #6. You can ask students to create a sentence in particular grammar tense (Present Simple, Present Progressive, etc.).
Categories
Variant #7. Print cards on colourful or black and white paper. Cut each word card separately. Divide students in pairs or teams. Give equal number of cards to each pair / team. Ask them to put the words into different categories after you say “start”.
The categories can be different:
- parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs)
- synonyms
- antonyms
- positive / negative words
- words by number of syllables
- words by number of letters
- words by alphabet
- etc.
Rolls
Variant #8. Print cards on colourful or black and white paper (paperboard is preferable). Glue according to pattern in the file. It’s better to have a roll for each category (adjectives, verbs, etc.). You can glue the stripes with words either in alphabetical order (as it is in the file) or randomly (this way is preferable so that your students wouldn’t know the order).
One student takes a roll. Other students sit / stand in front of him. The student unrolls one word (words should face other students!) and waits for synonyms from the others. He should guess the word on the roll based on synonyms said by students. Then another student takes turn guessing.
One more variant to use rolls!
Variant #9. A teacher has a roll with words. Students should be divided into 2 teams. The teacher shows the 1st word. If the first team (by turn) names 3 synonyms for the word (more - depending on the level), the team gets 1 point. If not, it is the turn of the 2nd team to give 3 synonyms. Play until all the words have been played with.
Trios or Solos
Variant #10. Print cards on colourful or black and white paper. Cut according to lines only (you will get vertical cards with 3 words). Divide students in pairs. Give 3 cards to each pair. Ask them to put the cards as if it was a board for the tic-tac-toe game. After you say “start”, students should play the game by giving synonyms to the words and putting Xs and Os. You know the rules.
Variant #11. Print cards on colourful or black and white paper. Laminate if you wish. Cut cards separately. Divide students in 2 teams and give them equal number of cards. They should put the cards face down. One member of a team turns the card over, the member of the other team should say the synonym for the word. If so, his team gets 1 point. If not, the member who turned the card first says the synonym and gets 2 points! Play until all cards have been played with.
