Graveyard of Words

So, we have been working on revising our fast and furious drafts in writing.  I want my students to try to use more detailed words in their writing.  The kids were really having a hard time with this and use the same old words over and over again.  I have done this lesson on word choice before, but decided to have the kids look up all the old, boring words and create lists of them in their writer's notebook.  the kids found synonyms for all the words, as opposed to just one of them.  This way the list is in their notebook as a reference.  There is no paper to lose or put in another folder and not want to drag out.  There is no anchor chart in the room that they don't want to use.  It is right there at their fingertips.  

We did end up working together to create this Halloween-themed bulletin board in the hallway.  We also have been working on contractions last week, so we added the pumpkins in there as an added touch. On the tombstones are the words we put in the graveyard and then the new, exciting words are listed underneath.