Give a brief oral lesson on descriptive language terms, such as adjectives and adverbs. Provide the students with the definition of an adjective and adverb. Explain that descriptive words can derive from the five senses and from internal qualities like thoughts, emotions and personality traits. Give examples of some descriptive language words to the class, like "smelly," "swiftly," "jealous" and "clean" and ask each student to think of one or two additional descriptive words to say out loud.
Divide the class up into groups of three or four students. Provide each group with a can of colored modeling clay and ask them to play with it for a few minutes. Instruct the students to be mindful of the texture, shape, smell, size, color and malleability of the clay as they handle it.
Instruct each group to compile a list of descriptive words for their colored modeling clay. Give the groups approximately five minutes to make their list of words such as "squishy," "bright," "soft," "wavy" or "fragile." For additional motivation, offer an incentive or reward to the group who compiles the longest list of descriptive words. Walk around the room and sit in with each group momentarily to monitor their brainstorming and cooperation and to offer any assistance if needed.
Ask each group to read their list of descriptive words aloud. Write each word on a dry-erase board or chalkboard but don't repeat words. Show the class the large number of words they came up with after all of the descriptive words have been announced and reward the group who had the largest number of words, if you desire.
Have each group make a particular clay object or animal such as a boat, tree or elephant. Make each member in each group responsible for a particular part of the sculpture. For example, if one group is making a dog, one child could form the body while others form the tail, ears and collar.
Allow the groups approximately five minutes to create their modeling clay sculptures. Have each group shield their sculpture from the view of other students. Walk around the room to monitor the students' progress and offer any necessary assistance or answer any questions the students may have.
Tell each group to keep its sculpture hidden after all of the sculptures are completed. One group at a time, ask each student to give one descriptive word pertaining to the sculpture he just helped make. After each student in a given group has announced a descriptive word, ask the other students to guess what that group sculpted. Once the correct answer is given have the group unveil its sculpture.