Sometimes it is a good idea to illustrate or reinforce a concept with a hands-on approach. If nothing else, a hands-on activity provides a nice change of pace. We cooked up some nouns, felt our adjectives, and now it is time to slice some verbs!
Suggestions
- Begin by explaining what an action verb is: a verb is a part of speech that shows action or being. We’ll focus on action verbs — those words that represent things we can do (slice, dice, wash, peel).
- Using the recipe below (or one of your own), ask your child to give you a word that describes what you are doing as he helps you make a salad.
- Encourage him to list as many action verbs as he can think of (peel the apple, chop the celery, slice the grapes, etc.).
- For a fun challenge, have him list at least one action verb for each letter of the alphabet.
- You can also expand the activity by having him illustrate each verb.
- Slightly older students can combine the noun, adjective, and verb activities to create simple sentences by explaining what was done and identifying each part of speech. (I chopped the red apple.)
Simple! And a fun way to learn about verbs!
Additional Resources
Learning Styles
Ideas on how to use, and not use, a child’s preferred way of learning. “[W]e are all unique, so we cannot be adequately classified into just these pigeonholes. However, with all of its limitations, generally recognizing the particular learning style and modality of your family members can take you a long way toward understanding and appreciating one another…. [I]t makes the job of teaching your students far easier.” (Quoting Diana Waring).
Activities
ABC Book Maker {Free}
Interactive that can be used to creatively list a verb for each letter of the alphabet.
Activity: Cookie-Cutter Nouns
You can include a version of this activity as a twofer by having your child point out each ingredient — noun.
Activity: Feel Your Adjectives
You can also have him describe each ingredient — adjective.
Balloon Game
Interactive where you pop the balloons that contain action verbs.
Books
When the Leaf Blew In by Steve Metzger
What happened when the leaf blew in? Lots of silly things! Fun picture book for teaching action verbs.
Grammar-land {Free eBook and Go Alongs}
Living book for teaching the parts of speech.
Lesson Plans & Unit Studies
Fruits & Veggies
Fun unit study with lots of opportunities to slice verbs!
Printables & Notebooking Pages
Action Verbs
Simple worksheet from K12 Reader for reinforcement and review.
Drawing & Writing Notebooking Paper {Free Download}
For illustrating each verb.
Waldorf Salad Recipe
Recipe printable.
Sample Action Verbs Encountered
wash
peel
core
chop
slice
stir
whisk
tear
sprinkle
pour
refrigerate
serve
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