Getting Active with Action Verbs

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

We asked you how you move your body.

Show your parent or teacher some ways you can move around (Don't go crazy!).

When describing things you do, physical action and mental (thinking) actions can be written as action verbs. An action verb is a verb that tells what the subject is doing mentally or physically. For example, if you jump, "jump" is the action verb. The action verb tells the reader what you are doing. If you think about something, "think" is the action verb. Thinking is what you are doing. Any time you think of an action verb, think of someone doing something physically or mentally.

You will explore physical action verbs first. Take a look at the examples below. Each example has a sentence with a picture. The action verb in the sentence is italicized. Read each example aloud to your parent or teacher:

The man kicks the ball.

The kids run.

The kids catch bubbles.

• Can you find the action verb in the next sentence?

Read the sentence, then tell your parent or teacher what the action verb is:

The girl swings.

The word "swing" is the action verb. The action verb tells you that the girl is moving by swinging.

• Are you ready to explore mental action verbs?

Mental action verbs are actions you do with your mind. For example, "thinking," "loving," "knowing," and "wondering" are examples of action verbs. Read the examples below aloud to your parent or teacher.

The action verbs are italicized:

She likes her plane.

The children are thinking.

• Can you find the action verb in the next sentence?

Read the sentence aloud to your parent or teacher. Tell your parent or teacher what the action verb is:

The baby loves his toy.

"Loves" is the action verb in the sentence.

You did a great job learning about action verbs! Before moving on to the Got It? section, tell your parent or teacher two examples of physical action verbs. Your action verbs can be from this lesson or you can come up with your own actions!