LANGUAGE ARTS
Song Lyric Synonyms

Submitted by: I Love That Teaching Idea! Staff
From: SLC, Utah
Date Submitted: November 24, 2001

This can be a fun "change-of-pace" activity when looking for a diversion in studying synonyms. Choose a song that your students are familiar with. Write the lyrics on the board. Underline the main words in each line. Have your students brainstorm in small groups words that mean the "same as" the underlined words. Now have each group come to the front of the room and sing the "new" verse of the song. See example below. This activity can also be fun teaching antonyms as well!

Example:
Old: Row, row, row your boat
New: Paddle, paddle, paddle your ship

Old: Gently down the stream
New: Softly down the river

Old: Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
New: Happily, joyfully, excitedly, jubilantly

Old: Life is but a dream,
New: Existence is but a vision!