A Mini-Lesson With Vivid Verbs and Adjectives

In the beginning of the text, it talks about the power or vivid verbs and adjectives in a story. I wanted implement these powerful words into the classroom and include them on the word wall. The first thing I did was give a mini-lesson on vivid verbs and adjectives. I began my lesson by asking my students if they knew what a vivid verb or adjective was. They took a few guesses. One student asked if it was a type of verb tense. Another student asked if it included words that ended in "es." I explained to them that verbs and adjectives are the most powerful words in a story. I also explained that another name for these types of words are "sparkle" words. I told the class that vivid verbs and adjectives can bring stories to life and really help their audience get a sense of imagination and sensory. Next, I gave the class some examples. For vivid verbs, I used grinned for smiled, sprinted for ran fast, and interrupted for talking while someone else is talking. Then I asked the class how much more powerful a sentence can become if I said "The boy ran down the hall" compared to "The boy sprinted down the hall." I emphasized that with the word sprinted, I could really imagine how fast the boy was running.Next, I gave examples of vivid adjectives. I used beautiful for pretty, horrible for bad, and clever for smart. I also emphasized the difference in a sentence. Using the word pretty to describe a flower conveys a different meaning than saying a flower is beautiful.

After the mini-lesson, I divided the class into groups of three and gave them directions. Each group had to find 10 vivid verbs/ adjectives as a group in books in the class library and write them down. Next, each student had to write one sentence for each vivid verb/adjective. After they were finished with that, they had to pick, as a group, their favorite three words. I monitored the students and made sure they were understanding the concepts of a vivid verb and adjectives. Some students chose ordinary words so I made them go back and find another word. I told the class I was going to take their groups three favorite words and place them on the word wall. Next week, I will assess their use of vivid verbs/adjectives and the word wall by having them write a story using five vivid verbs/adjectives on the word wall.

I implemented this lesson because I think it is important for children to learn how to use vivid verbs and adjectives to make their stories more interesting. It also allows students to bring out their creative side. I had one student who finished his work early and decided to write a story using all his ten words. It was very creative, and it allowed him to use his imagination. I also wanted the class to have an activity that incorporated the word wall. A word wall is very important in a classroom, and some classes do not use it to it's full potential. This was not my classroom, but I do know from doing this activity, I will want to do it again in my future classroom. The children worked together and learned a new concept through a fun activity. Worksheets can be so boring. This activity really gained the children's interest and they will be able to apply it in their future stories.

* Some Words the Students Came Up With*
weeping, rooted, violently,corky, friendly, sticky, sassy, hysterical, impressionable