Adjective Lesson Plan

The following lesson plan is geared toward middle or upper elementary English classes, but may be altered for another level. The purpose of the lesson plan is to provide a fun way for students learn adjectives. Not only does this lesson plan reinforce what an adjective is, but it also shows how descriptive words improve writing.

Introduction to Lesson Plan on reinforcing adjectives

Review with the students the definition of an adjective. An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun. Adjectives answer the following questions about these nouns or pronouns: How many? What kind? Which one?

Adjective Lesson Plan Activity One

Display on an overhead or smart board, or give each student a printed copy of a paragraph written without any adjectives (Preferably one that could be seriously enhanced with adjectives). Have the students read the paragraph to themselves, then have someone read the paragraph aloud. Discuss how boring the paragraph is and how there is not much description.

Now display (or give students) a copy of the same paragraph with adjectives added. Have the students read the new paragraph to themselves, then have someone read it aloud. Ask the students to explain the differences between the two paragraphs. Which paragraph was more vivid? Which one could they visualize better? Discuss how the paragraph came to life when there were more descriptive words.

Adjective Lesson Plan Activity Two

Select another paragraph written without any adjectives. (See figure 1 for an example paragraph).

Have the students close their eyes. Read the paragraph aloud to the students. Give each student a sheet of plain white paper, pencils and crayons. Have the students draw and color a picture of what they envisioned when they listened to the paragraph.

Now have the students close their eyes again. Read the same paragraph with the addition of adjectives. (See figure 2). Now have the students draw another picture after listening to the revised paragraphs. Have a few students show their pictures to the class. Discuss how more accurate details were added to the second picture. In the first pictures, students may have imagined their own details, but they weren't all alike. For instance, the hat in the first picture may have been a different color for each student. In the second picture, all students knew to color the hat yellow.

Adjective Lesson Plan Summary

Review with the students the purpose of adjectives in sentences. Point out that an adjective describes things in more detail. Adjectives help paint a complete picture of what is being described. Even one adjective can change the outlook of a paragraph.

Now that each student has a better understanding of adjectives and their purpose, they should be able to locate adjectives easier in grammar exercises.