Grade 6
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Language
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Reading: Informational
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Reading: Literature
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Speaking & Listening
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Writing
CCSS ELA Standard: 6.L.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Gr 1-8 
Antagonyms: Dust, Clip, and Left
Dust can mean “remove dust” but also “add more dust!”
Psycholunaphase (Greek and Latin)
What on earth is a Psycholunaphase? Break apart the Greek and Latin roots, figure out what it should mean, then invent the creature, device, or spell it describes.
Geosynth (Greek and Latin)
What on earth is a Geosynth? Break apart the Greek and Latin roots, figure out what it should mean, then invent what it describes.
Aquamorphotron (Greek and Latin)
What on earth is a Aquamorphotron? Break apart the Greek and Latin roots, figure out what it should mean, then invent what it describes.
Pyrostasis (Greek and Latin)
What on earth is a Pyrostasis? Break apart the Greek and Latin roots, figure out what it should mean, then invent what it describes.
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Theta
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Eta
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Zeta
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Epsilon
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Delta
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Gamma
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Beta
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Alpha
Can your students match multiple meanings of the same five words?
Parts of Speech Party – Gift
How many different ways can we use the word “gift” in a single paragraph? Let’s find out in this Parts of Speech Party!
Parts of Speech Party – Care
How many different ways can we use the word “care”? Let’s find out in this Parts of Speech Party!
Parts of Speech Party – Fruit
How many different ways can we use the word “fruit”? Let’s find out in this Parts of Speech Party!
Super Specific Similes – Strong Uncle
Let’s make this simile about a strong uncle even more specific.
Super Specific Similes – Slimy Broccoli
Start with a basic simile. Now make it more specific. Now even more. Watch how much better writing gets with each round.
Analyze Suffixes: -ly, -less, and -ful
What exactly does adding -less do to a word?
Sets of Idioms Related to Numbers
Two sets of idioms related to numbers.
Five Sets of Bird and Bug Idioms
Five sets of idioms related to birds (and bugs).
Sets of Idioms Related to Body Parts
Five sets of five idioms, all related to body parts!
Sets of Idioms Related to Food
Five sets of five idioms, all related to food.
Antonym Paths
Does the antonym of an antonym bring us back to the same meaning?
Fancier Figurative Language: Use the Opposite
Let’s start with “As cold as fire.”
Fancier Figurative Language: Move the Simile
What if we started a sentence with the simile?
Word Ladder: East to West (4 Steps)
COLD to COOL. BAND to SING. Change one letter at a time — can you find the path?
Word Ladders Introduction
You won’t believe how this spelling and vocabulary puzzle will get kids’ brains sweating over the smallest of words.
Ambiguous Sentences
Rather than just demand that students “write clearly,” we’ll explore the hazards of poorly written sentences… and maybe create one of our own!
Fancier Figurative Language: Advanced Repetition
Is your students’ use of repetition limited to, “The girl was very, very, very fast.”? Let’s borrow some ideas from Shakespeare!
Advanced Alliteration and Consonance
When students learn about alliteration, it’s hard to steer them away from goofy tongue-twisters. Certainly, there must be more powerful and practical ways of using alliteration. In this lesson, I draw on delicious examples from Shakespeare to show how a very advanced writer used alliteration. Then, I break those ideas down so students can try them out.
What’s In My Brain: Cute Baby vs Fast Cheetah
Can students spot similes vs metaphors?
Sets of Idioms
Why do we say ‘break a leg’? Five themed sets of idioms your students will actually remember.
Synonym Graphs
So, which is happiest: happy, joyful, or ecstatic? Which is most temporary?
Multiple Meaning Matcher – Introduction
Your students will try to match up definitions that belong to the same homophone in this brain-boggling vocab puzzle.
Content Imperatives: Paradox
How can one idea pull in opposite directions, being both true and false or right and wrong at the same time? It’s time to explore Paradoxes!
Fancier Figurative Language: Start with a Cliche
We’ll start with the cliché “as cold as ice” and go somewhere much more interesting.