Split your class into groups of two students apiece. Hand them 20 to 30 different flashcards. Write a list of action verbs on the board. Tell your students to write these down on their flashcards, one verb to a card. Students then stack their cards and place them on a desk. Teams take turns flipping over the top card. The student who flips the card reads the action verb out loud and then performs the activity in place at their desk. For example, if the verb is "run," the student can run in place at her desk. Let the students work through the desk of flashcards at least two or three times during this activity.
Type out a series of numbered sentences that each include at least one action verb. Write the phrase "Where's the Verb?" at the top of the worksheet. Print out these worksheets and hand them out to your students. Set a timer for one minute. Tell them that they have one minute to find all the verbs in the sentences. They must circle all the action verbs in the sentences. After the minute has passed, pick students to name the verbs they found in the sentences. If the student finds all of the verbs, let him pick one to act out. If he doesn't, move on to another student.
Scatter your students around the room and spread them as far apart as possible. Begin reading a list of words, including nouns, adverbs, adjectives and verbs. Your students must not react in any way until you read a verb. They can then begin performing this activity by moving in place where they stand. Periodically shout "act out!" during the activity. Students can then pick an action verb to act out animatedly where they stand. For example, if they are "jogging" they can jog more rapidly, wiping their brow with their hands and even moving a few feet from side to side. Say "cool down!" to get them to return to a standing still position.
Create a series of "Mad Libs" that focuses only on verbs. Do this by writing out a simple story on a sheet of paper but leaving a blank spot where a verb would normally go. Make at least six of these Mad Libs. Print these out. Split your class into groups of two students and give each student one of the sheets. Make sure each student in a group gets a different Mad Lib. Students asks their partner to list a verb for each blank spot in the story. They don't tell them the story, just simply ask for a verb. The reading student writes the verbs down as the other student gives them. They then read the story out loud to their partner.