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Word Meaning & Figurative Language
Connotation & Tone
Context Clues
Figurative Devices
Word Choice & Impact
100
  • Define what is meant by a word's "connotative meaning" and give a simple example appropriate for 6th grade.
  • Connotative meaning = the ideas or feelings a word suggests beyond its dictionary definition (example: "cheap" vs. "inexpensive" — "cheap" feels negative).
100

Which word has a more positive connotation: "childlike" or "childish"? Explain briefly.

  • "Childlike" is more positive (innocent, wonder); "childish" is more negative (immature).
100

What are context clues? Give one simple strategy for using them to determine an unknown word.

  • 100: Context clues are hints in surrounding text; strategy: look for synonyms/antonyms or examples.
100

100 — Identify: Is "as brave as a lion" an example of simile, metaphor, personification, or hyperbole?

  • 100: Simile.

100

100 — What does it mean to "analyze the impact of specific word choices" in a text? Give a one-sentence explanation for 6th grade.


  • 100: It means noticing how a particular word affects a sentence’s meaning, tone, or imagery.

200

Metaphor; means the classroom was very busy and active like a beehive.

Metaphor; means the classroom was very busy and active like a beehive.

200

A character "stomped" into the room vs. "entered the room." How does the word "stomped" affect tone and what can it suggest about the character's mood?

  • "Stomped" implies anger or frustration, creating a harsher tone and suggesting mood.
200

 Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined word: "Lena felt elated after finishing her project." What does "elated" mean?

  • 200: "Elated" = very happy, thrilled.
200

4. 200 — Explain personification and give a 1-sentence example about a city that uses personification.

  • 200: Personification definition; sample: "The city hummed with sleepless energy."

200

 5. 200 — Replace the plain verb "said" with two stronger verbs and explain how each changes the meaning of the line.

  • 200: Replace "said" with "whispered" (quieter, secretive) or "demanded" (forceful), etc.

300

Explain how the meaning of the word "cold" changes in these two sentences: (a) "The water was cold." (b) "Her words were cold." Name the literal vs. figurative meaning.

  • (a) literal = low temperature; (b) figurative = unfriendly or unemotional.
300

Provide two synonyms for "happy" that differ in connotation and explain the difference in tone each would create if used in a story.

  • (Examples) "cheerful" (pleasant), "elated" (very joyful/excited) — elated is stronger and creates a more intense tone.
300

Determine the meaning of the underlined word using context: "The ancient map was tattered and brittle, edges crumbling like dry leaves." What does "brittle" mean here and which clue helped you decide?

  • 300: "Brittle" = easily broken; clue: "edges crumbling like dry leaves."
300

4. 300 — What is hyperbole? Write a hyperbole a 6th grader might use when complaining about homework.

  • 300: Hyperbole = deliberate exaggeration; sample: "I have a million pages of homework."

300

 5. 300 — Given the sentence: "The garden was full of flowers," suggest two more precise word choices to make the image stronger (one for color/appearance, one for atmosphere) and explain why.

  • 300: Example: "The garden was full of scarlet roses" (color) and "the garden was full of heady fragrance" (atmosphere).

400
  • Identify the figure of speech and explain its effect: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees."

Personification — gives the wind a human action to create a gentle, secretive mood

400

Read this brief excerpt (teacher reads aloud or projects a 2–3 sentence example). Ask: What single word or phrase most strongly creates the mood, and how does it do that? (Teacher provides excerpt appropriate to class.)

  • (Teacher-provided excerpt: teacher identifies key word/phrase.)
400

 Sentence pair: "Marco was famished after practice. He devoured his dinner as though he'd not eaten for days." What does "devoured" mean here and what context clues support your answer?

  • 400: "Devoured" = ate quickly and eagerly; clue: "as though he'd not eaten for days."
400

4. 400 — Read this line: "Her smile was sunshine breaking through clouds." What figurative device is used and how does it affect the reader's understanding of the character?

  • 400: Metaphor; creates warmth and brightness, suggesting the smile lifts mood.

400

 5. 400 — Read this short sentence: "He glanced at the letter and paled." Choose a different verb than "glanced" that would change the emotional impact of the action, and explain how.

  • 400: "Scanned" vs. "glanced" — "scanned" suggests more careful reading, changing the emotional impact.
500
  • Choose a single word from a short sentence (create an original short sentence) and explain how that word choice changes the tone of the sentence. Provide the sentence and two alternate word choices that would change the tone, explaining each effect.
  • (Sample answers will vary; teacher checks that explanation ties word choice to tone.)
500

Give an example of a word with negative connotation that an author might use to influence reader opinion about a character; explain how that choice shapes the reader’s view and the overall tone.

  • (Sample answers vary; look for negative connotation like "sneaky," "pushy," "manipulative" and explanation of effect.)
500

3. 500 — Provide a short (2–3 sentence) context you create that lets a classmate infer the meaning of a challenging word (choose a grade-appropriate advanced word). Then name the word and explain the clues you embedded.

  • 500: (Teacher checks student-created contexts and reasoning.)
500

4. 500 — Compare simile and metaphor: write one example of each that describes the same object (for example, "time") and explain the subtle difference in meaning or effect between them.

  • 500: (Teacher evaluates student examples — expect simile like "time is a thief" vs. metaphor "time is a thief." Explain simile uses "like/as" making comparison explicit; metaphor states it directly.)
500

5. 500 — Provide a three-sentence micro-paragraph (original) where one strong word choice sets the tone. Underline or name that word and explain in 1–2 sentences how that word shapes meaning and tone.


  • 500: (Teacher evaluates; ensure explanation links the strong word to tone.)