Expanding Vocabulary Through Antonyms Vocabulary Development English Grammar JSS 3 First Term Lesson Notes Week 3
Vocabulary Development: Antonyms (Words Nearly Opposite in Meaning)
Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 13–14 years
Topic: Vocabulary Development: Antonyms
Sub-topic: Understanding Antonyms in Context
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define antonyms.
- Identify antonyms in sentences.
- Use antonyms in writing and speaking.
- Explain the difference between lexical and contextual antonyms.
Keywords
- Antonym
- Opposite
- Lexical meaning
- Contextual meaning
Set Induction
The teacher begins the lesson by asking the students what they understand by “opposites” in everyday life, using common pairs like “hot and cold” or “up and down.” This introduces the concept of antonyms.
Entry Behaviour
Students are familiar with basic opposite words like “big” and “small.”
Learning Resources and Materials
- Flashcards with antonyms
- Whiteboard and markers
- Printed list of common antonyms
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge
The students have been introduced to the idea of opposites through their daily interactions. This lesson builds on that foundation by expanding their vocabulary with more complex antonyms.
Embedded Core Skills
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Language development
Learning Materials
- JSS 3 English Grammar textbook
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
Reference Books
- Lagos State Scheme of Work
- JSS 3 English Grammar textbook
Instructional Materials
- Flashcards
- Printed handouts with antonym pairs
Content
- Definition of Antonyms
- Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Examples include “hot” and “cold,” “up” and “down.”
- Types of Antonyms
- Lexical Antonyms: Words that have fixed opposite meanings (e.g., “big” and “small”).
- Contextual Antonyms: Words that take on opposite meanings depending on how they are used in a sentence or passage.
- Examples of Common English Antonyms
| Word | Antonym |
|---|---|
| Above | Below |
| Big | Small |
| Black | White |
| Day | Night |
| Early | Late |
| Fast | Slow |
| Front | Back |
| Happy | Sad |
| Heavy | Light |
| In | Out |
- Antonym Categories
- Adjectives: Tall/short, beautiful/ugly, dead/alive, quick/slow
- Verbs: Float/sink, go/come, drop/pick up
- Prepositions: To/from, into/out of, above/below
- Adverbs: Gently/roughly, quickly/slowly, always/never
15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
- The opposite of “above” is ____.
a. over
b. below
c. in
d. on - He ran fast, but she walked ____.
a. quickly
b. fast
c. slowly
d. speedily - The room was bright, now it is ____.
a. dark
b. light
c. clean
d. open - Come ____, not go away.
a. here
b. in
c. out
d. back - He was happy, but now he is ____.
a. smiling
b. sad
c. cheerful
d. excited - The opposite of “heavy” is ____.
a. fast
b. light
c. big
d. large - She is always on time, but he is ____ late.
a. never
b. sometimes
c. early
d. often - The balloon floated up, and the stone ____.
a. picked
b. fell
c. dropped
d. sank - The baby was awake, now she is ____.
a. eating
b. sitting
c. sleeping
d. walking - In the morning, it is day, but now it is ____.
a. dark
b. light
c. day
d. night - The road is straight, but the alley is ____.
a. long
b. narrow
c. curved
d. wide - You should always tell the truth, not ____.
a. run
b. cry
c. speak
d. lie - He bought a small car, but I got a ____ one.
a. slow
b. big
c. late
d. early - She speaks quietly, but he speaks ____.
a. loudly
b. softly
c. gently
d. slowly - They arrived early, but we came ____.
a. fast
b. late
c. quick
d. in
15 FAQs with Answers
- What are antonyms?
- Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.
- What is an antonym for “happy”?
- Sad.
- Is “fast” the opposite of “slow”?
- Yes.
- What is a lexical antonym?
- A fixed opposite meaning.
- What is a contextual antonym?
- An opposite meaning that depends on context.
- Give an antonym for “big.”
- Small.
- What is the opposite of “day”?
- Night.
- Can antonyms apply to emotions?
- Yes, like happy/sad.
- What is the opposite of “heavy”?
- Light.
- Is “black” the opposite of “white”?
- Yes.
- What is the opposite of “early”?
- Late.
- Give an antonym for “front.”
- Back.
- Is “above” the opposite of “below”?
- Yes.
- What is the antonym for “in”?
- Out.
- What is an antonym for “tall”?
- Short.
Presentation
Step 1: The teacher explains the meaning of antonyms using everyday examples.
Step 2: The teacher provides more examples of antonyms in sentences.
Step 3: The teacher asks students to identify antonyms in a given passage and use them in their writing.
Teacher’s Activities
- Write examples of antonyms on the board.
- Provide definitions and encourage student participation.
- Correct misused antonyms.
Learners’ Activities
- Identify antonyms in sentences.
- Pair antonyms with their opposites.
- Use antonyms in their own sentences.
Assessment
- What is an antonym for “big”?
- Write the antonym for “fast.”
- What is the opposite of “happy”?
- Give the antonym for “light.”
- Use “slow” and its antonym in a sentence.
Evaluation Questions
- What is an antonym?
- Give two examples of antonyms.
- What is the antonym of “early”?
- Is “sad” the opposite of “happy”?
- Write the antonym of “in.”
- What is the opposite of “beautiful”?
- Can antonyms describe emotions?
- What is the antonym of “go”?
- Write the opposite of “black.”
- Give an antonym for “float.”
Conclusion
The teacher goes around to review the students’ work, provides feedback, and encourages students to use antonyms in their daily conversations.