Long, Little, Short, Small
Learning synonyms
Month 9 · Activity 15 · Target Words
Instructions
- Ask the child to fill a glass with a little amount of water. Place filled glass on counter
- Give the child a second glass and fill with a small amount of water. Place the filled glass on the counter.
- Chat about how much water is in each of the glasses. Are amounts similar?
- This is a beginning explanation that some words mean the same thing (synonyms)
- Little and small are words that can be used to mean the same thing
- Click here for a lesson about synonyms
Simplify
Write the word "synonym" on a sheet of paper. Count the number of letters in synonym - 7. Ask which letters are used twice in the word synonym (there are 2 y's and 2 n's) Explain that a synonym is a word that means exactly or nearly the same as another word. Say two words and ask the child if these two words are synonyms or mean almost the same thing. Encourage the child to say the word "synonym".
shut - close (Yes); sack - bag (Yes); big - little (No); angry - happy (No); small - tiny (Yes); fast - slow (No); beautiful - pretty (Yes);
Extend
Ask child to think of synonyms to these words: choose one of the words and see if child can say the synonym
infant/baby; fast/quick; large/big; ill/sick; funny/silly; shut/close; stone/rock; present/gift; father/dad; house/home; chef/cook; evil/bad; happy/glad
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
Would you rather be the oldest or the youngest person in your family and why?
Would you rather have many good friends or one very best friend and why?
Materials
- two clear glasses
Activity Resources
Language Skills
Problem Solving Skills