<p>Learning new vocabulary often requires &#34;hooks&#34; - memory devices that help students remember the words they have learned. Here is a quick, traditional and effective exercise focusing on pairing opposites. The opposites have been divided into beginner, <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/lesson-plan-matching-opposites-1212273" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">intermediate</a> and advanced level lessons. The exercise can be done as a matching exercise, or, for a greater challenge, students can be asked to come up with the opposites themselves. Both types of exercises are included in the resource section of this lesson.</p><p><b>Aim:</b> Improving vocabulary through the use of opposites</p><p><b>Activity:</b> Matching opposites</p><p><b>Level:</b> Beginner</p><p><b>Outline:</b></p><ul><li>Divide students into small groups and distribute the opposites worksheet. </li><li>Ask students to either match the opposites (exercise 1) or write the opposites (exercise 2). If you have more time, you can ask students to first match the opposites and then write out the opposites individually. Alternatively, you could give exercise as follow-up homework. </li><li>Correct in class. Expand the exercise by asking students to provide synonyms. </li></ul>Lesson Plan - ESL Vocabulary Lesson Plan - Opposites<br/><p><b>Exercise 1 - Match the Opposites</b></p><p>boy<br/>speak<br/>old<br/>right<br/>far<br/>foot<br/>sister<br/>wife<br/>black<br/>cool<br/>buy<br/>clean<br/>small<br/>woman<br/>begin<br/>drink<br/>full<br/>fat<br/>stand up<br/>father<br/>short<br/>hard<br/>cold<br/>light<br/></p><p>big, large<br/>brother<br/>dark, heavy<br/>dirty<br/>eat<br/>empty<br/>end<br/>girl<br/>head, hand<br/>hot<br/>husband<br/>left, wrong<br/>listen<br/>long, tall<br/>man<br/>mother<br/>near, close<br/>new, young<br/>sell<br/>sit down<br/>soft, easy<br/>thin<br/>warm<br/>white<br/></p><p><b>Exercise 2 - Fill in the Opposites</b></p><p>boy<br/>speak<br/>old<br/>right<br/>far<br/>foot<br/>sister<br/>wife<br/>black<br/>cool<br/>buy<br/>clean<br/>small<br/>woman<br/>begin<br/>drink<br/>full<br/>fat<br/>stand up<br/>father<br/>short<br/>hard<br/>cold<br/>light<br/></p><p><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/lesson-plan-matching-opposites-1212273" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">Intermediate Level Opposites</a></p><p>Advanced Level Opposites</p><p>Back to <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/resources-for-esl-teachers-4133087" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="3">lessons resource page</a></p>