Title - The Power is in the Verb
By - Marcy Winograd
Primary Subject - Language Arts
Secondary Subjects - Language Arts
Grade Level - 3-4
Objective: Students generate lists of powerful action verbs, act out the verbs, and then post the lists for future writing assignments which emphasize the power of the verb.
Process: The teacher distributes chart paper to cooperative groups. At the top of each piece of chart paper is a general action verb. Examples: move, eat, communicate, talk, run, look, etc. When the teacher says GO!, each group brainstorms and lists specific action verbs for the more general verbs. Example: move: saunter, stroll, charge, etc. After a minute or two, the teacher says STOP!, and the chart paper is passed to the next group to continue adding to the list. When all of the groups have added to each power verb list, volunteers go up to the front of the class to act out the verbs while the rest of the class guesses which power verbs are being acted out. The lists are then collected, posted in the class and used as reference lists for future writing assignments and revision exercises. (For revision exercises, the teacher may ask students to lose half of their adjectives and adverbs and replace them with power verbs. Example: Which is stronger? She ate voraciously? She devoured her food.
Math
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Art
Computers & Internet
Music
P.E. & Health
Other
Multi-Disciplinary
Printable Version
