EXACT WORDS

Words With Exact Jobs

Some words look almost the same.
But only one does the exact job.

EXACT WORDSSTRONG CHOICESCLEAR WRITING

STEP 1 • OUR CHECKS

Four questions for every word

CORE

Your job: watch each check appear. We will use these all lesson.

MEANINGWhat does this word mean?

FEELINGWhat feeling does it give?

PLACEWhere does it fit?

SENTENCEDo we need to change words around it?

Later today you will write one short persuasive paragraph using exact words from a word bank.

STEP 2 • GUESS FROM CLUES

Match the clue to the exact word

CORE

Your job: click a clue, then click the word box it belongs in.

whisper

talk very softly

dash

run quickly

furious

very, very angry

delighted

very happy

STEP 3 • FILL THE GAP

Which word fits the sentence?

CORE

Your job: pick the best word. Then press Check answers.

PLAYGROUND

The old play space feels ______ — there is nowhere to run.

Cramped = too small and tight. Stronger than “a bit small.”

FRIEND

No one sat with Jess at lunch. She felt ______.

Lonely = missing company — not just “sad.”

LINE

Cutting the line is ______ to the kids who waited.

Unfair = not right for everyone.

TEACHER

The teacher gave a long, hard look. It was a ______.

Stare = a long look that can stop you talking.

STEP 4 • EXTRA PRACTICE

Name the exact feeling

EXTRA

Your job: choose the exact feeling words for this scene.

A CHILD REMEMBERS HOMEThinking about the old house fills Sam with ______. Watching the fish swim, Sam is ______.

FIRST GAP

Missing home and wishing you were there is called…

Homesick = missing home.

SECOND GAP

So caught by something you can’t look away means…

Fascinated = so interested you can’t look away.

STEP 5 • ALMOST THE SAME?

Why is the exact word better?

CORE

Your job: pick the exact word. Then read why the weaker word fails.

PLAY SPACE

The play space is not only “small.” It is ______.

Tiny shows it is much too small. “Little” is weaker.

LINE CUTTING

Sam’s anger about unfair line-cutting is ______.

Furious = very angry because something is wrong. Grumpy is just a mood.

STEP 6 • MORE EXACT WORDS

New everyday scenes

CORE

Your job: choose the exact word for each sentence.

OVAL

The new oval feels ______. There is room to run and play.

Enormous = very, very big.

RAIN

The storm ______ the sports day (made a big mess of plans).

Ruined = spoiled completely — stronger than “changed.”

LIBRARY

Please ______ in the library so others can read.

Whisper = talk softly on purpose.

FISH TANK

A goldfish in a cup is ______ — it has no room to swim.

Trapped = stuck with nowhere to go.

STEP 7 • CLOSE BUT WRONG

Which near-word almost works?

EXTRA

Your job: pick the word that is close — but still not exact enough.

Instead of lonely

Almost right, but weaker:

Sad is general. Lonely means missing people.

Instead of tiny

Almost right, but weaker:

Small is okay, but tiny shows it is much too little.

Instead of stare

Almost right, but weaker:

Look is plain. Stare is a long, hard look.

Instead of homesick

Almost right, but weaker:

Remember just means you think of it. Homesick means you miss it.

STEP 8 • DOES IT FIT?

A word can sound okay — and still be wrong

CORE

Your job: put each sentence in FITS or DOES NOT FIT.

FITS

The word’s job matches

DOES NOT FIT

The word is too strong / wrong

STEP 9 • YOUR TURN TO JUDGE

Decide first — then reveal

CORE

Your job: think Fits or Does not fit. Then click the card to check.

STEP 10 • REMEMBER THIS RULE

When does a word fit?

CORE

Your job: copy this rule into your workbook.

Ask:
Who is it about? • How big is the feeling? • Is it the exact word?

If the answers don’t match, the word does not fit — even if the sentence sounds okay.

STEP 11 • WATCH A REWRITE

Change weak words into exact words

CORE

Your job: watch how we make the sentence stronger.

Weak: The play space was really too small, and Sam felt sad about the old house.

Problem: “really” and “sad” are okay — but not exact.

Exact: The play space was tiny, and thinking of home made Sam feel homesick.

Why: tiny = much too small · homesick = missing home

STEP 12 • YOU REWRITE

Make this sentence exact

CORE

Your job: rewrite this sentence in your workbook using exact words.

Weak sentence

Jess felt bad at lunch with no one to sit with, and the play space felt too small for everyone.

Try words like lonely or cramped
You may change other words to make it sound natural
Keep the same idea

STEP 13 • WORD BANK

Exact words for a persuasive paragraph

CORE

Your job: look at the word bank. Star 4–6 words you might use.

YOUR PERSUASIVE JOBWrite to the principal. Persuade them that our class needs a bigger, better play space — not the tiny, cramped corner we have now.

tinycrampedlonelyunfairfuriousdelighted enormoussafeprotectpleadaskurgent faircarefulclimbdashactiveplayful quietsilentplanhelpstrongwise roomyshareturnequipmentovalspace

STEP 14 • UPGRADE THE WORDS

Swap weak words for exact words

CORE

Your job: 1) click a yellow weak word 2) pick the strongest exact word — some options fit but are weaker.

Dear Principal, I want to with you about our play space. We need a space, not the small corner we have now. Our play space is too small, and that is not for everyone. When we play, we love to and move around, but now kids often look and stuck. Please do not stay about this — this is your . If we now, everyone will see a more play time. A better space would also our play time. It would keep us safe and . I you to listen and make a choice for our class.

CHOOSE THE STRONGEST WORDClick a yellow weak word above. Strong upgrades and weaker near-misses will appear together.

STEP 15 • MODEL

Listen to a persuasive paragraph

CORE

Your job: watch how exact words help persuade the principal.

Ask: Principal, our class needs a larger play space.

Evidence: Our corner is tiny and cramped for kids who love to dash and climb.

Feeling: Waiting with nowhere to play can feel lonely and unfair.

Push: Please do not stay silent — this is your duty.

Close: If we plan carefully now, everyone will enjoy a more active, safer play time.

STEP 16 • BIG WRITE

Your persuasive paragraph

CORE

Your job: write one short paragraph in your workbook. Use exact words from the bank.

Prompt

Write to the principal. Persuade them that our class needs a bigger, better play space.

One short paragraph only
Choose words that fit — you do not need every word
Have a clear ask for the principal

WORD BANKPick the exact words that help you persuade.

tinycrampedlonelyunfairfuriousdelighted enormoussafeprotectpleadaskurgent faircarefulclimbdashactiveplayful quietsilentplanhelpstrongwise roomyshareturnequipmentovalspace

08:00

STEP 17 • CHECK YOUR WORK

Tick each box

CORE

Your job: tick these in your book. Then fix one word or phrase.

□

I wrote one short persuasive paragraph.

□

I asked the principal for something clear.

□

I used exact words from the bank.

□

Every word fits — not just fancy words.

□

My paragraph still sounds natural.

STEP 18 • EXIT

One exact word from today

CORE

Your job: write one exact word you used or learned today.

Exact word: ____________________

Be ready to talk about it with your teacher.

EXTRA • CAREFUL WORDS

Same idea — stronger school words

OPTIONAL

Your job: rewrite one everyday sentence for a school letter voice.

EVERYDAYThe play space is really small, and kids feel bad when they can’t play.

STRONGERThe play space is tiny and cramped; kids feel lonely when there is no room.

Write your own stronger sentence in your workbook.

EXTRA • WEAK WORDS

Why isn’t “nice” always enough?

OPTIONAL

Your job: listen and join the class talk. Look at the four ideas below.

Dictionary ideanice = pleasant / okay In writingoften too soft for a strong ask Better choicesfair · right · careful · wise Test itDoes “nice” show the exact job?