Exploring Action Words

Overview

This engaging 50-minute lesson focuses on teaching verbs (action words) to Year 1 students in alignment with the Australian Curriculum: English (ACELA1451), which emphasises exploring how sentences can be expanded with verbs to express action. Students will learn to identify, use, and act out verbs, promoting language development and kinesthetic learning.

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Recognise and identify verbs as action words.
• Use verbs in sentences to describe actions.
• Demonstrate verbs through physical movement, reinforcing understanding.

---

Key Vocabulary

• Verb
• Action
• Movement

---

Resources & Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Verb Flashcards (with Australian-themed actions, e.g., hopping kangaroo, surfing, running koala)
• "Verb Adventure" worksheet
• Dice with actions written on each face (e.g., jump, run, clap)
• Space for movement (for active participation)

---

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Purpose: Set the lesson context and engage students.

1. Warm-Up Question:
   Write the sentence "The koala climbs" on the whiteboard. Ask:

   • "What is the koala doing?"
   • Discuss how "climbs" is a special word that shows action—it’s a verb.

2. Explain Verbs:
   Introduce verbs as words that tell us what someone or something is doing. Give examples like:

   • "Jump" (demonstrate jumping).
   • "Run" (pretend to run).
   • "Laugh" (laugh together!).

3. Interactive Brainstorm:
   Ask students to call out actions they do during the day (e.g., eating, sleeping, playing) while you write them on the whiteboard in a colourful list.

---

2. Whole-Class Activity (15 minutes)

Purpose: Build understanding through fun and interactive activities.

1. Verb Charades:

   • Divide the class into 5 small groups.
   • Give each group a verb flashcard.
   • Groups act out the verb without speaking while the rest of the class guesses the action.
   • Reinforce by repeating the guessed action and saying: "That's right! Jumping is a verb because it shows action!"

2. Verb Movement Game ("Action Dice"):

   • Bring out the action dice with verbs written on each side (jump, hop, clap, run, etc.).
   • Roll the dice and have the class perform the action together.
   • Add a sentence prompt written on the board: "We are all ______ now!" Encourage students to fill in the correct verb (e.g., jumping).

---

3. Guided Practice (10 minutes)

Purpose: Practise identifying and using verbs in sentences.

1. Story Time Exploration:

   • Read a short Australian-themed story with plenty of action, e.g., about animals in the bush (e.g., "The Kangaroo's Day").
   • Pause at sentences involving actions and ask:
     • "What is the action in this sentence?"
     • "What is the kangaroo doing?" (Point to "jumping" or other action words.)

2. Verb Adventure Worksheet:

   • Hand out a worksheet where students match pictures (e.g., a girl running, a wombat digging) to the right verbs.
   • Students then write (or trace) a short sentence for one picture, using the correct verb (e.g., "The wombat digs").

---

4. Independent Practice (10 minutes)

Purpose: Allow students to consolidate their learning.

1. My Verb Drawing:
   • Ask students to draw themselves doing a favourite action (e.g., running, singing, swimming).
   • Below their drawing, they write a short sentence describing their action, e.g., "I am swimming".

---

5. Reflection & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

Purpose: Reinforce key learnings through discussion.

1. Verb Review:

   • Point to the verbs listed on the whiteboard from the brainstorm.
   • Ask students to shout out their favourite verb.

2. Sentence Challenge:

   • Choose 1 or 2 volunteers to share their verb drawing and sentence with the class. Encourage applause and positivity.

3. Closing Question:

   • Ask: "Why do we need verbs in our sentences?"
     Highlight: Without verbs, sentences wouldn't show actions!

---

Differentiation

• Extension: Ask advanced students to use their verbs in two connected sentences (e.g., "I am swimming. I love the water!")
• Support: Pair students who need assistance with a peer buddy during the worksheet activity; allow tracing instead of writing sentences.

---

Assessment

• Observe participation during the whole-class activities (e.g., charades, dice game).
• Review the "Verb Adventure" worksheets to ensure students matched the correct verbs.
• Evaluate independent work (drawings and sentences) to confirm understanding.

---

Australian Curriculum Links

Year 1 English – Language

• ACELA1451: Understand the use of verbs to represent actions and states.

---

Teacher Reflection

At the end of the day, consider:

• Were students engaged during active tasks?
• Did the movement and stories help reinforce their understanding of verbs?
• What strategies can be added for quieter students or those needing extra support next time?