How to bring meanings of synonyms alive

Envisage or envision?
This short play script, designed to be read out in a dramatic way is to help teach the very subtle difference in meaning between the words “envisage” and “envision”. It is all very well to read the dictionary definitions (which can seem abstract) but the playscript illustrates the difference in a practical way.
Although both words refer to imagining something there is a subtle difference:
Envision – is usually related to imagining an idea, normally in the future and almost always in a positive way.
Envisage – is used usually in relation to a clear mental image about something specific.
Once the playscript has been performed (3 actors) set your students this task:
Look up two words that although close in meaning are not quite the same. Then think of a way the words might be used in a playscript. Write that playscript. Then hear a few acted out and assess and feedback if it helped the students understand the difference in the meanings of the words.
Examples of words which might be used for this exercise:
Amateur/novice awful/atrocious awkward/clumsy charming/enchanting
Complete/conclude and so on (refer to a good list of synonyms)
The students can research the meanings and usage of the words as part of this exercise. It will help make the learning of meanings of words more interesting and active. It will also show clearly the precision of the English Language in the sense that every word, however similar it may seem, will always have its own precise meaning.
As a follow up take a piece of text, say from a great novel, and experiment by taking certain words and substituting alternative synonyms. How does it change the meaning?