WRITING ALIVE

Hi Kids,

Writing Alive is back this week with another fun lesson and activity.

WORDPLAY

From the time you were a baby, you have been storing up words that you understand and use. These words make up your vocabulary. Most people add new words to their vocabulary as they grow and learn. The more words they know, the better they’re able to communicate.

ACTIVITY 1

Newspapers are full of words. Some of them you may be familiar with, and some of them may look a little strange and new.

1. Scan the Daily Mirror for words that seem unfamiliar or new.

2. Pick five words.

3. Based on how they’re used in the newspaper, write down what you think they mean.

4. Compare your definitions with those in the dictionary.

ACTIVITY 2

The word said is often used by reporters to attribute quotes and information, but there are many other words that can be used. Look through the newspaper for examples of such words. Make a list below of words reporters use instead of said.

FINDING NEW WORDS

It’s a good idea to find one new word in the newspaper each day. Look up a new word in the dictionary and then try to write a sentence with this new word.

Another fun way to learn new words is to look up their synonyms and antonyms. Synonyms are words with similar meanings and Antonyms are opposite words. Look at the chart below to understand the difference better.