This activity helps students understand that adjectives are used for solid objects as well as concepts such as music. The students will be given a paper bag and asked to reach inside without looking. They will describe the object inside the bag with a list of one-word adjectives. Then the students will hear a music selection and describe how the music makes them feel. Both lists will be explained as adjective lists, and the teacher will help the students identify adjective use.
During computer time, allow children to play the interactive computer game provided by ManyThings.org. This game allows children to repeatedly match opposing adjectives to each other. This is a terrific activity when the class is trying to learn the definitions of many different adjectives. The game is able to be reset after the student has finished it. It is a simple flash game in which students click and drag, and students are allowed to try until they get every answer correct.
Play a simple game of hangman with the class. Use adjectives as the mystery word, then challenge the class to use the word in a sentence. Make the game more challenging by bringing the word into the classroom. After the word is guessed, challenge students to find an object in the room that demonstrates the adjective. For example, after the students guess the adjective, "Hard," students will find books, rulers, pencil boxes and other hard classroom supplies.
Use a book from the curriculum to find adjectives in everyday reading. Challenge students to find and copy a number of adjectives from one chapter or short story, then provide definitions for each word. This activity is performed in reverse by giving children a list of adjectives found in the story, then encouraging them to use context clues to find the definition.