Level of Difficulty

Level of Difficulty
Answer Key

Teacher Note Vocabulary Ladders

For detailed instructions Word Definition

on how to implement the
components of this lesson, simple fairly easy
see pages 15–19. not difficult; only has a few steps
uncomplicated
or parts
clear; some beginning level skills
basic
Objective are needed

Students will analyze words difficult tough, hard

related to level of difficulty, complicated has many detailed steps
from easy to hard.
strong skills are needed to understand
complex
hard parts

Materials Ordering Words

• Vocabulary Ladders Check that students can explain why the words are ordered
template (page 142) the way they are.
• Activity Cards
(page 83) Sentence Clues
• Ordering Words 1. It takes a lot of strength and effort to do (difficult)
(page 84) exercises like pull-ups.
• Sentence Clues
(page 85) 2. In kindergarten, we learned (simple/basic) things like
shapes, letters, and numbers.
• Sentence Stems
(page 86) 3. The 3-D puzzle my grandma got me for Christmas was
(complicated/complex), taking me almost a week to finish.
• Write About It!
(page 87)
4. Remote-control cars usually run on batteries and are
(uncomplicated/simple) compared to real car engines.

Additional Words Sentence Stems

Introduce students to
additional words such as
elementary and challenging
as you work through
the lesson.
Check that student responses reflect the meaning of the
underlined word in each sentence frame.
Write About It!
Check that responses include the new vocabulary terms used
in the correct way.

82 #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 Level of Difficulty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Activity Cards

Directions: Cut apart and match the words and definitions below.
Then, glue them onto the Vocabulary Ladders activity sheet in order, from
easy to hard.

strong skills are needed

basic to understand hard parts

complex tough, hard

complicated has many detailed steps

difficult fairly easy

not difficult; only has a

simple few steps or parts

clear; some beginning

uncomplicated level skills are needed

© Shell Education #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 83

 Level of Difficulty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Ordering Words
Directions: Write the words from the Word Bank in the order you choose,
from easy to hard, on the ladder. Then, explain an important difference
between two of the words.

Word Bank
basic complex complicated
difficult simple uncomplicated

Comparing Words

Choose two words.

Word 1: _________________

Word 2: _________________

One difference between these

words is:

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

84 #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 Level of Difficulty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Sentence Clues
Directions: Choose the best word from the Word Bank to complete
each sentence.

Word Bank
basic complex complicated
difficult simple uncomplicated

1. It takes a lot of strength and effort to do

__________________________ exercises like pull-ups.

2. In kindergarten, we learned ____________________

things like shapes, letters, and numbers.

3. The 3-D puzzle my grandma got me for Christmas

was __________________________, taking me
almost a week to finish.

4. Remote-control cars usually run on batteries and are

__________________________ compared to real
car engines.

© Shell Education #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 85

 Level of Difficulty

Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________________

Sentence Stems
Directions: Complete each statement.

1. The homework was so complex that ________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

2. A few basic rules I follow at school are _______________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

3. Something that was simple to learn was ______________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

4. Something complicated I’m learning now is ___________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

5. A few uncomplicated chores are ____________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

6. Although my math test was difficult, I did well because

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________ .

86 #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 Level of Difficulty

Name: ___________________________________________  Date: __________________

Write About It!

Directions: Read the prompt. Then, write a response. Underline the new
vocabulary you use in your response.

Word Bank
basic complex complicated
difficult simple uncomplicated

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

© Shell Education #51302—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 87