Knowledge is the thinking skill that shows how you can remember previously learned information and create factual answers based on that information. To test your students' knowledge skills with adjectives, try reading a descriptive paragraph. Ask students to list what each character was wearing in the paragraph. You could also read a paragraph and ask students how many objects were described using a specific adjective, such as "green." Next try showing students a chart of adjectives for about 30 seconds. Cover the chart and have students list as many adjectives as they can remember.
Comprehension shows that students understand the meaning behind information presented to them. Read a paragraph to your students -- for example, about a child who forgot to do his homework and went to school giving a lofty, descriptive excuse to the teacher. Ask students how the teacher might respond and why. Have them pick out the strongest uses of adjectives in the paragraph and explain why these descriptions may or may not persuade the teacher. You can also ask students to retell the story using descriptive adjectives from the teacher's perspective.
Application is the thinking skill that allows you to apply previously learned situations and outcomes to new situations and potential outcomes. Read your students a descriptive paragraph -- for example, about a child playing soccer in the rain who slips and falls, getting bruised, muddy and grassy. Give them a new situation where the class has gone outside to play soccer and it has started to rain. Write a list of adjectives on the board and have students circle adjectives that could reflect the outcome of their own rainy soccer game based on the previous story told. You can repeat this activity providing several different situations.
Analysis requires breaking information down and examining it. Post pictures of two children from different cultures, such as the United States and China. Have students list the differences and similarities they find in clothing, accessories, expression and so on using descriptive adjectives, such as "black boots," and "ponytail hairstyle." Then have students present their lists and analyze why each child may be different or similar. You can also read a short story without using adjectives and then read the same story filled with descriptive adjectives. Have students compare and contrast the impact of each reading of the story.
Synthesis requires that students link previously learned information, events and situations together to create a pattern or plan that was not clearly shown to them. Riddles and brain teaser problems are ideal for teaching synthesis. For example, you can pass out several different nouns, verbs and adjectives and have students put them together to form a sentence, such as "Abe's bashful cat darted effortlessly." In this example, students could solve the puzzle by aligning words in alphabetical order.
Evaluation involves students taking in information and coming up with conclusions to problems with no right or wrong answers. Write a list of beneficial adjectives on the board, such as "strong," "creative" and "brave." Tell students that they are on a sinking ship and must choose a team of survivors to try to make it to dry land. Have them put adjectives in order from most to least important qualities. Students must then explain why and how they chose their team based on what situations they expected to encounter. You can repeat this activity using multiple situations requiring different skills.