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      Rich vocabulary associated with the water

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can effectively use the words ‘treacherous', ‘murky’ and other rich vocabulary associated with the water.

      Key learning points

      1. 'Treacherous' is an adjective which means dangerous or unsafe; like terrifying rapids.
      2. 'Murky' is an adjective which means dark, muddy or cloudy; like water that’s so dirty you can barely see through it.
      3. 'Stagnant' is an adjective which means stale or lifeless; like a dirty pond where nothing is living or moving.
      4. 'Choppy', 'frothy' and 'shimmering' are other rich vocabulary associated with water.

      Keywords

      • Noun - a naming word for people, places or things

      • Adjective - a word that describes a noun

      • Synonym - a word that has the same or similar meaning to another word

      • Word pair - words that often appear together

      Common misconception

      Pupils will need further explanation on some of the more abstract word pairs. For example, a 'murky past' or 'stagnant wages'.

      For each word pair that is more abstract, ask the pupils why something might be described in that way and put the word pair in a sentence to model to the pupils how to use it correctly.

      Teacher tip

      Start the lesson by showing the pupils different images of bodies of water and asking them to describe them.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which image represents the word precipitous?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q2.
      Which image represents the word towering?

      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q3.
      Which image represents the word rugged?

      An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
      An image in a quiz

      Q4.
      Select the correct definition of summit.

      hatred or bitterness
      a crack or deep hole
      Correct answer: a top or peak

      Q5.
      Select the correct definition of steep.

      Correct answer: sharp and vertical
      hateful or mean
      attractive or scenic

      Q6.
      Select the correct definition of crevasse.

      charming or picturesque
      Correct answer: a crack or deep hole
      empty or bare
      Q1 image 1 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q1 image 2 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q1 image 3 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q2 image 1 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q2 image 2 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q2 image 3 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q3 image 1 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q3 image 2 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q3 image 3 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What word does this image represent?

      An image in a quiz
      bucolic
      Correct answer: treacherous
      stagnant

      Q2.
      What word does this image represent?

      An image in a quiz
      rural
      tangled
      Correct answer: murky

      Q3.
      What word does this image represent?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: choppy
      idyllic
      coastal

      Q4.
      Which of the following are synonyms of 'frothy'?

      overgrown
      Correct answer: foaming
      bucolic
      Correct answer: fizzy

      Q5.
      Fill in the missing word in the following sentence: 'After three days with the windows closed, the __________ air in Yin’s bedroom started to stink.'

      bustling
      Correct answer: stagnant
      barren
      towering

      Q6.
      Fill in the missing word in the following sentence: 'Oz sat in the boat and watched the sun shine on the __________ water.'

      coastal
      imposing
      Correct answer: shimmering
      hectic
      Q1 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q2 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023 Q3 © Copyright Mrs Wordsmith 2023

      To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Rich vocabulary associated with the water, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...