Write a single letter on the chalkboard and have each student write as many nouns as she can that start with that letter. After two minutes, ask the children to read their lists one by one. This game will encourage quick thinking while evaluating each student's knowledge of nouns. You can also mix sentence structure with nouns by giving each student a few minutes to write a sentence. For example, instruct the children to create a phrase that contains three nouns and have each person share her sentence with the class.
Group games allow students to collaborate and teach each other. Split the students into small groups and provide them with a chart. Each chart will contain the four noun categories. Give the groups some time to list as many nouns in each category as possible, and reward the team that creates the largest list. Another challenge is to pick nouns from a paragraph. Write three or four sentences on the board and ask each team to list all the nouns they find. The team that finds all the nouns first wins.
Adding a theme to your noun games will add some focus and challenge to your activity. Create a theme, such as geography, sports or food, to name a few. Next, place the students in a circle and give each one a few seconds to come up with as many related nouns as possible. Another themed game focuses on a location or outing. Choose a destination and have each student start by saying where he is going and what he plans to bring. For example, the student recites "I am going camping, and I plan to bring a tent," with "tent" being the noun.
The Internet provides an entirely new learning medium for children. There is an endless amount of noun games available from various websites, such as Soft Schools or Learning Planet. Playing noun games -- or any word games -- online helps a child learn the material and develop a sharper mind without making the task seem like a chore.