The Shades of Meaning Gallery: gallery walk posters

Setting up the gallery walk

  1. Print one poster per exhibit (letter or tabloid size, color if possible) and tape them around the room at eye level, spread out.
  2. Print the Gallery Walk Viewing Guide PDF for each student.
  3. Make groups of 3–4. Start each group at a different poster.
  4. Set the lesson presenter timer for 4 minutes per poster. At the signal, groups rotate clockwise.
  5. At each poster, students find every numbered detail, read the placard, and write I see / I think / I wonder.
  6. After the walk (about 20 minutes), students open The Shades of Meaning Gallery on devices to solve each exhibit's challenge, or discuss the "After the walk" question as a class.
Exhibit AThe Shades of Meaning Gallery · 6.RC.10, 6.RC.12 & 6.RC.13

Same Meaning, Different Feeling

A connotation meter

negativepositivestingythriftynosycuriousstubborndeterminedSame dictionary meaning, different feelings123

Look closely

  1. Denotation: Word pairs like thrifty and stingy share a dictionary meaning: careful with money.
  2. Negative connotation: "Stingy" makes the person sound selfish.
  3. Positive connotation: "Thrifty" makes the same habit sound smart.

Placard

These word pairs have similar denotations but different connotations:

PositiveNegative
confidentarrogant
thriftystingy
curiousnosy
determinedstubborn
slenderscrawny
Exhibit BThe Shades of Meaning Gallery · 6.RC.10, 6.RC.12 & 6.RC.13

Two Descriptions of One House

Painted by Writer A and Writer B

A: "cozy cottage nestled"B: "shabby shack crouched"123

Look closely

  1. Warm word choice: "Cozy," "nestled," and "family stories" create a warm, welcoming tone.
  2. Gloomy word choice: "Shabby," "crouched," and "rotting" create a creepy, negative tone.
  3. Same house!: Both writers describe the same place. Connotation changes how readers feel about it.

Placard

Two writers described the same old house:

Writer A: "The cozy cottage nestled among the trees, its weathered shutters hinting at a hundred years of family stories."

Writer B: "The shabby shack crouched among the trees, its rotting shutters hanging like broken teeth."

Exhibit CThe Shades of Meaning Gallery · 6.RC.10, 6.RC.12 & 6.RC.13

Tone vs. Mood

Monday morning, comic panel

alarm "chose violence"CEREALfour flakes"Oh, wonderful."123

Look closely

  1. Sarcastic tone: The author says "wonderful" but means the opposite. Tone is the author's attitude: here, sarcastic.
  2. Funny exaggeration: An alarm clock that "chose violence" is funny personification.
  3. Mood: Mood is how the reader feels: amused, because the complaints are so over the top.

Placard

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject. Mood is the feeling the reader gets.

"Oh, wonderful. Another Monday. My alarm clock has once again chosen violence, and the cereal box contains exactly four flakes and a cloud of dust. Truly, a glorious beginning."
Exhibit DThe Shades of Meaning Gallery · 6.RC.10, 6.RC.12 & 6.RC.13

News or Opinion?

Two newspaper headlines

THE DAILY NEWSCouncil votes 5–2to approve feeTHE LOUD VOICECouncil RAMSTHROUGH greedy fee123

Look closely

  1. Neutral words: "Voted to approve" just reports what happened.
  2. Loaded words: "Rams through" and "greedy" have strong negative connotations meant to persuade.
  3. Ask yourself: Is the writer informing me or trying to make me feel something?

Placard

Journalists try to use neutral words in news reports. Opinion writers often use loaded words with strong connotations to persuade readers.

Report 1: "The city council voted 5–2 to approve the new parking fee."

Report 2: "The city council rammed through a greedy new parking fee."

Exhibit EThe Shades of Meaning Gallery · 6.RC.10, 6.RC.12 & 6.RC.13

Your Word Choice

"The dog ___ across the yard."

scampered = playfultrotted = neutralprowled = menacing123

Look closely

  1. Playful: "Scampered" makes the dog sound happy and energetic.
  2. Threatening: "Prowled" makes the same dog sound dangerous.
  3. You are the author: Pick verbs on purpose: the connotation sets the tone.

Placard

The final exhibit asks you to be the author. Choose words to create a specific tone.

Sentence: "The dog ___ across the yard."