Language Arts

 Language Arts

May 13, 2025

Focus Question: How do I describe the diversity among ethnic groups in Jamaica and the Caribbean?

Topic: Antonyms

Objective: At the end of the lesson students should be able to:

Examine analogies and other word relationships, including synonyms and antonyms, to determine the meaning of words

Content summary

Teaching/Learning Activities

Engage

Activity: “Word Match – Opposites Attract”

• Display a list of words on the board (e.g., accept, fair, peaceful, respect).

• Ask students to match them with their opposites (e.g., reject, unfair, violent, disrespect).

• watch the clip below

  
  

EXPLORE 

Activity: Text Hunt: “Finding Meaning with Antonyms”

Instructions:

• Students read a short passage about a situation involving diversity (see example below).

• They underline words they don’t know and look at antonyms in the sentence to guess the meaning.

Example Text Excerpt:

"Everyone at Harmony School is included, no matter their background. No one is excluded for how they dress, speak, or celebrate. The students promote respect instead of disrespect, and solve problems with peace, not conflict."

Guiding Question:

Can you figure out what “excluded” and “disrespect” mean by using the words around them?

EXPLAIN 

• Explain how antonyms give clues to a word's meaning in context.

• Use sentences like:
  “Unlike his rude tone, her speech was polite.”
  “Though the room was silent, his voice was loud.”

 

ELABORATE 

Activity: Real-Life Scenarios: Understanding Diversity Through Opposites

Instructions:

• Students are given short scenarios involving children from diverse backgrounds (language, culture, appearance).

• They must:

  • Identify a key vocabulary word

  • Write or choose its antonym

  • Use both in a new sentence

Example Scenario:
"Maria spoke kindly to the new student who didn’t speak much English. She made him feel welcome."
Word: kind → Antonym: cruel
New Sentence: Some students are kind, but others are cruel and unwelcoming. 

EVALUATE 

Activity: Antonym Power Worksheet
Students complete a worksheet in their tiered group

Tier 1    Circle the antonym

1. The hall was silent during the speech. What is the antonym of “silent”?
   A. quiet  B. peaceful  C. loud  D. whisper

2. The student was excluded from the game.
   A. ignored  B. included  C. disliked  D. exited

3. His actions were disrespectful to the teacher.
   A. polite  B. loud  C. angry  D. rude

Tier 2

Choose the correct antonym from the word bank:
(peace, fair, included, kind, accept)

4. The class made sure everyone felt __________.

5. They treated the new student with __________ words.

6. Instead of fighting, they wanted __________.

7. It’s important to be __________, not unfair.

8. We should __________ people for who they are.

Tier 3  Write a sentence

"Jason told Mei she didn’t belong at their lunch table because she ate different food."

1. Write a better way Jason could have acted, using the antonym of “exclude.”

Your Sentence:

Read each sentence carefully. Then, write the antonym of the bold word based on the context clues.

1. Unlike his arrogant attitude, her words were humble and inclusive.
   Antonym of “arrogant”: ____________________

2. The teacher encouraged unity, not division, among the students from different cultures.
   Antonym of “unity”: ____________________

3. It’s better to show empathy than to behave with indifference toward someone’s struggles.
   Antonym of “empathy”: ____________________