Action Words: Let's Explore Verbs!

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 2:39 Video
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Lesson Description

This lesson introduces Pre-K students to the concept of verbs as action words through an engaging video and interactive activities.

Video Resource

What is a Verb? (Verbs for Kindergarten/First Grade)

Inspired by Kinder

Duration: 2:39
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • A verb is an action word.
  • Verbs tell what someone or something does.
  • We can find verbs in sentences.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify verbs as action words.
  • Students will be able to give examples of verbs.
  • Students will be able to locate verbs in simple sentences.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know what action words are. Briefly explain that action words tell us what people, animals, or things do. Tell them they will watch a video to learn more.
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Play the 'What is a Verb?' video. Encourage students to watch and listen carefully for examples of action words.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, ask students what they learned about verbs. Review the definition of a verb as an action word. List verbs from the video on the board.
  • Activity: Action Time! (10 mins)
    Call out different verbs (e.g., jump, run, clap, sing, dance). Have the students perform the actions. This reinforces the concept that verbs are actions.
  • Sentence Search (5 mins)
    Write simple sentences on the board (e.g., 'The cat sleeps.' 'I eat a snack.' 'We play outside.'). Ask students to identify the verb in each sentence.

Interactive Exercises

  • Simon Says (Verb Edition)
    Play a game of Simon Says, but only use verbs as the actions (e.g., 'Simon Says jump,' 'Simon Says clap').
  • Verb Charades
    Act out different verbs and have the students guess what you are doing.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a verb?
  • Can you name some action words?
  • What are you doing right now? Is that a verb?

Skills Developed

  • Listening Comprehension
  • Vocabulary Development
  • Identification of Parts of Speech

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which word tells you what someone does?

Correct Answer: Run

Question 2:

What is 'jump'?

Correct Answer: An action

Question 3:

Which of these is something you can DO?

Correct Answer: Sit

Question 4:

The girl _______ a book. Which action word fits?

Correct Answer: Reads

Question 5:

We _____ in the sand. Which is an action?

Correct Answer: Play

Question 6:

Which word is an action like 'play'?

Correct Answer: Eat

Question 7:

He _____ in his bed.

Correct Answer: Sleeps

Question 8:

Which of these is something you do with your feet?

Correct Answer: Run

Question 9:

What do you do with a ball?

Correct Answer: Play

Question 10:

The cat _____ up the tree.

Correct Answer: Climbs

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A _______ tells you what someone does.

Correct Answer: verb

Question 2:

You can _______ with your feet.

Correct Answer: run

Question 3:

The boy _______ in his bed.

Correct Answer: sleeps

Question 4:

We _______ ice cream.

Correct Answer: eat

Question 5:

I can _______ a book.

Correct Answer: read

Question 6:

I can _______ outside.

Correct Answer: run

Question 7:

The kids _______ in the sand.

Correct Answer: play

Question 8:

We can _______ up the hill.

Correct Answer: run

Question 9:

A verb is an _______ word.

Correct Answer: action

Question 10:

He _______ the steps.

Correct Answer: climbs

Educational Standards

PK.5.R.2:Students will hear different parts of speech through conversations, read-alouds, and interactive reading: concrete objects as persons, places, or things (i.e., nouns), words as actions (i.e., verbs), color adjectives, spatial and time relationships such as up, down, before, and after. PK.8.R:Students will listen and respond to read-alouds, participate in shared reading, and interact independently with texts. PK.1.L.1:Students will actively listen using agreed-upon rules with prompting.

Teaching Materials

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