CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.5c

ELA6th GradeVocabulary Acquisition and Use

The Standard

Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., stingy, scrimping, economical, unwasteful, thrifty).

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

What This Standard Means

Students need to tell the difference between words that mean almost the same thing, but feel different. They should explain why one word sounds positive, negative, or neutral, and choose the best word for a sentence, character, or tone.

Mastery looks like using evidence from context to defend a word choice, not just saying “they mean the same thing.” Students often get stuck by relying only on dictionary definitions. They may also miss how a word can suggest judgment, mood, or attitude, like “confident” versus “cocky.”

Ways to Teach It

Hands-on activity: Give word cards like thin, slim, scrawny, and lean, then have students sort them into positive, neutral, and negative groups.
Writing prompt: Ask students to revise “The character was cheap” three ways, each with a different tone, then explain their choices.
Quick assessment: Display three similar words and one sentence, then have students pick the best fit and write one reason.
Real-world connection: Bring in restaurant reviews or product ads and have students underline words chosen to make something sound better or worse.