 Printable Version for your convenience!
Title - Parts of Speech-Adjectives
By - Jerome J. Manigan
Primary Subject - Language Arts
Grade Level - 4-12+
OBJECTIVES:
Students will:
- review the standard definition of adjective.
- discuss the necessity of communicating effectively via oral and written communication.
- appreciate the role adjectives play in animating and making more clear the ideas, concepts, emotions expressed in written and oral communications.
- identify adjectives in a variety of ways:
- by listening to themselves and their classmates speak;
- in material provided by the teacher;
- in student produced writing.
METHODOLOGY:
Instruction techniques: Whole group, cooperative learning, and, if necessary, small group instruction and/or one-on-one teacher/student instruction.
Students will use a standard dictionary or their textbook to define adjective (words that describe or modify nouns and pronouns).
Students are asked to explain what adjectives do. Responses might include:"they tell what kind" (hard working man, blue car, pretty house, etc.)
"they tell how many" (three students, several girls, nice neighbors, etc.)
"they tell which one" (that woman, this window, the book, a painting, etc.)
Students will be teacher selected or teacher created material which they are to read which clealy show effective use of adjectives. (This material might be passages from a story the class is reading, a newspaper article, a speech from a social studies book or several paragraphs describing a work of art or a musical composition.) After reading the material they are to revisit the text in order to circle all of the adjectives. They will then identify how the adjectives are working in the text. Does the adjective identify kind? Tell how many? Identify which one?
Each student will generate a piece of writing (2 paragraphs) in which is demonstrated the ability to effectively use adjectives. These student-generated writings will be reviewed by classmates. The student reviewer will circle all adjectives contained in the writing.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Teacher will orally question students:
"What is the definition of adjective?
"How do you know an adjective is an adjective?
"Speak some adjectives."
"What do adjectives do for our writing and speaking?
"What happens to our speaking and writing when adjectives are not used?
-- use of adjectives is limited? ?
-- use of adjectives is excessive?
Students will generate a 2-paragraph paper in which they demonstrate their understanding of adjectives. This paper will be graded by the teacher. All papers will be displayed for students to enjoy and to reinforce concepts presented about adjectives and their role in bringing to live oral and written communication.
I have successfully modified this lesson for use with elementary, middle school, and adult learners. Most recently I taught adjectives while preparing my students for a trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum. The teacher selected material I used was a brochure describing one of the exhibits the students visited. (Talk about killing two birds with one stone!)
The success of the lesson is in using material which clearly shows the effective use of adjectives.
E-Mail Jerome J. Manigan!
|
Math
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Art
Computers & Internet
Music
P.E. & Health
Other
Multi-Disciplinary
