Language Arts-Verbs 

               Verbs are the words in a sentence that show the movement, the actions, or the process taking place in the sentence.  Most beginning writers fail to comprehend the impact verbs have on their writing.  Good verb choice engages the reader and also allows the writer to experience greater pleasure during the process. 

                This lesson will teach students* to enhance their writing by replacing old, over-used, plain verbs with exciting verbs that stimulate reader interest as well as writer imagination. 
             *This lesson was developed for Resource Students at the Middle School Level.  It may be used as a remediational tool to help older elementary students develop grammar skills as well organizational skills to enrich their written work.  It can also be successfully used with Regular Education students as a supplemental or reinforcement exercise.

Subject: Language arts
Topic: verbs
Grade Level: Intermediate
Vivid Verbs Student File and URL:student/student.html

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Instructional Objectives

1. After participating in the student activities, the students will be able identify and use verbs.
2. Students will use creative language to enhance their writing.
3. Students will be able to apply this technique all forms of writing.

Student Activities  student overview

Special note:  You may want to pretest and posttest.  Print and administer the introductory activity worksheet before allowing students to begin this website.  Also provide a story prompt to use as a prewrite sample and grade against the rubric.   After students have completed the activities in the website, compare pre and post work.  Share progress with the students.
 

Introductory Activity:  Students will begin reviewing what a simple verb is and how boring they can be.  This site includes a lesson page, worksheet, and answer key. 
To see Introductory lesson, click here:  'Boring Verbs' Student Activity

Choosing the Right Word Activity:  To help students get the feel for the importance of good verbs, students will plug in their own verbs to a paragraph and share it with a partner.  They may view a finished sample when they are done.
Student worksheet 

Final Activity:  Students will create their own story to experience the pleasure of story writing.  They will be using descriptive words and vivid verbs to bring movement and pictures in the minds of  their readers. 
Click here for Final Activity

Assessment
Plot
4--Logical.  Flows from one event to another in a sensible pattern.  Has a theme interwoven; such as friendship, overcoming obstacles.
3--Flows from event to event.  Clear story line. 
2--Difficult to follow events.  Unclear in some areas
1--There is no flow to the story.  Jumps around and is unclear.

Setting
4-- Great details help reader mentally paint a picture of where and when the story is taking place. 
3-- Some good details that give an idea of where or when the story takes place.
2--Some detail but hard to imagine where or when the story is taking place.
1--Very little description of the setting.  No real images are presented.

Verb Usage
4-- Great verbs that explain action, detail, and develop reader interest.  Keeps the reader wanting more.
3--Verbs that describe movement and  enhance the mental movie taking place in the reader's mind.
2--Some exciting verbs used but not with much interest.
1--No thought given to making verbs come alive.

Spelling and Punctuation
4--No spelling or punctuation errors.  Spell check has been utilized. Proof reading taken seriously.
3--One or two spelling errors.  Obscure or difficult punctuation errors.
2--Three to five misspellings.  Punctuation errors are evident.
1--Careless misspellings.  Run-on sentences, common capitalization errors.

Creativity
4--A lot of thought went into developing interest.  Great descriptive words.  Characters and setting have life.  Problems and solutions hold the readers interest.  Humor used when appropriate.  Details are not overdone-especially gory details.
3--Interesting story with developed details.  Good choice of descriptive words.
2--Fair story.  Some effort, thought have been given. 
1--Boring story.  No surprises or details to create interest.

Grading--
1) you may score each section as a point total with 20 points possible.  This could then be converted to a percentage in order to award letter grades. 
18-20 points =90 to 100%  or A- to A
16-17 points =80 to   85%   or B- to B
14-15 points =70 to   75%   or C- to C
12-13 points =60 to   65%   or D- to D
10 or below   =below 60%   or F

2)  Find the average score for total assignment and award grade based on the average.  Example 4+3+4+2+3=16 divided by 5=3.2 which rounds down to a 3.

4= Exemplary Writer
3= Accomplished Writer
2= Developing Writer
1= Beginning Writer
 

Results

Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

Please go to teacher's corner to access links to very helpful resources.