Antonyms

Antonyms

Teachers often give this tip: synonyms are similar and antonyms are opposite. Here are some example of synonyms: cold/freezing, big/large, small/tiny. Here are some examples of antonyms: hot/cold, big/small, near/far. Understanding these terms helps students become better readers and writers.

The first step is to really understand what an antonym is and how it is used. An antonym is the opposite of a word. It is often used to help a writer show the difference between two things. For example, a writer might say something like this, “Yes, they were sisters, but they couldn’t have been more different; one was tall, while the other was short. One was very loud, while the other was quiet.”

For a quick antonym activity, find a grade-level word list online like this 2nd grade spelling word list, and challenge them to think of as many antonyms for those words as possible. That way, they will practice applying their understanding of antonyms and improve their spelling skills at the same time!

To learn about antonyms, you might want to start by learning online. There are many way to practice using antonyms, including worksheets, using them in a story, and playing online games. It’s likely that the option most children would choose is online practice!

The multisensory nature of online games helps all students learn, including English language learners (ELL) and students with special needs, such as children with autism. Pair online games with your antonyms lesson to help your students succeed.