Hyponymy (Stein)

Activity 1

Show the learners the list of three nouns. Ask them to discuss the questions in pairs or small groups. 

After a couple of minutes, reveal the focus of the lesson in the next slide: how nouns can relate to each other by being more general or specific. Use the example to demonstrate. Ask learners if they can think of any other examples. Don't worry if they struggle at this point, as they will see more throughout the lesson. 

Ask learners to make notes on the new terminology as they will need it for the other activities. 

Activity 2

Ask learners to read the list of nouns. For each noun, they need to supply the superordinate (or more general) word as in the example. After the learners have tried independently, use the 'Answer' buttons to share the solutions. 

In the next task, learners use the drag-and-drop activity to match the subordianate to the superordinate term. Make sure they put them in this order, or they will be marked as 'incorrect'. Place the cards side-by-side to connect them and double-click to break apart.

Activity 3

Talk the learners through the next slide. We can represent the relationship of hyponymy between words graphically by drawing a hierarchy. Ask learners to copy down the example. 

Next, guide learners through the instructions for the next activity. They need to create their own hierarchy using the words that will be shown in the next slide. After the leaners have tried individually, drag and drop the words to create the logically ordered hierarchy.

Solution:

Material

Metal (copper, steel, gold)

Fabric (cotton, wool, silk)

Activity 4

Next, move on to the final activity. Explain how sometimes the pattern of hyponymy is obvious from word formation. Ask learners to think of examples of subordinate words that use the word 'knife'. In the next slide, reveal the answers and accept any other suitbale responses. Complete the same activity for the word 'spoon'. 

Finally, ask learners to create their own hierarchies, using the words given in the list. Use the questions at the end to discuss their work in pairs. 

This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.

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