Learning Map
EnglishVocabularyusually ages 9–11

Antonyms & Synonyms

Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their antonyms (opposites) and synonyms (words with similar meanings), using synonym and antonym relationships to refine vocabulary and improve precision in writing

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

When your child is writing, can they swap out a basic word for a more precise one — for example, replacing "happy" with "elated" or "said" with "whispered" — to make their meaning clearer?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Shades of Meaningages 5–9Synonym and antonym work builds on shades of meaning; learners must distinguish intensity gradations before systematically relating words through synonym/antonym relationships
Antonyms & Synonymsthis skill · ages 9–11
Unlocks
Using a Thesaurus to Choose Wordsages 10–11Thesaurus use builds on understanding synonyms and antonyms
Advanced Figurative Languageages 11–14Connotation/denotation distinction extends KS2 antonyms and synonyms

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9E4LA11high confidenceYear 4 · Language

expand vocabulary by exploring a range of synonyms and antonyms, and using words encountered in a range of sources

AC9E5LA08low confidenceYear 5 · Language

understand how vocabulary is used to express greater precision of meaning, including through the use of specialist and technical terms, and explore the history of words

AC9E3LA10low confidenceYear 3 · Language

extend topic-specific and technical vocabulary and know that words can have different meanings in different contexts

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

EN2-VOCAB-01low confidenceEnglish K-10 · Stage 2
EN3-VOCAB-01low confidenceEnglish K-10 · Stage 3

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2E4LA10high confidenceEnglish · Level 4 · Language strand
VC2E3LA11low confidenceEnglish · Level 3 · Language strand
VC2E5LY04low confidenceEnglish · Level 5 · Literacy strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

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