Common Core Standards

Grade 6

Reading RL.6.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.

Aside from figurative language, which students have seen starting in fifth grade, this standard also tacks on the requirement of knowing about connotations. Having students understand connotation is to have them understand that you can't simply replace words in a sentence with synonyms and expect the sentence to still have the same meaning. For example, "What a beautiful dress!" and "What a cute dress!" give off two completely different mental images, even though both pretty and cute have very similar denotative definitions.

Example 1

Here is a lesson to use when studying mythology with your students.

Have students highlight important words used in Greek and Roman myth that help them determine the way the Ancient Greeks saw the world. Then have them create a Grecco-Roman picture-dictionary of the gods and goddesses (using the vocabulary words they found) to describe each of the major gods and goddesses of the pantheon. They should include images and pictures that represent them, as well.

Aligned Resources

Teacher Guides

Video

ELA Drills, Advanced: Spelling 5

Aristotle

The observed gravitational effect between Common Core activities results from their warping of Shmooptime.