Teaching Strategies - Augusta Mann

Act-Out Adjectives and Adverbs
ACT-OUT ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS
The teacher engages students (K-8) in learning the meaning of more than one hundred descriptive adjectives and adverbs through reciting each word and pantomiming an action for it in a rhythmic call and response style. Word meanings are discussed and related to students’ experiences after the initial pantomime and call and response.

Process using the word “amazed” as an example:

1. Teacher says the word “amazed!”
2. Students repeat the word “amazed!”
3. With one action, the teacher pantomimes being amazed (mouth open and arms out in amazement at what he is seeing) then freezes while students copy his one action and freeze. It is important that speaking the word and the pantomime action be done as a rhythmic call and response with no other words spoken. e.g.

Teacher: (points to herself) “amazed!” (spoken with gusto)

Teacher: (points to students)

Students: “amazed!” (spoken on the next full beat after the teacher spoke)

Teacher: (pantomimes being amazed-- one beat)

Students: (pantomime being amazed on the next beat after the teacher’s pantomime).

Many different descriptive words can be used depending on grade level. Some words that students already know are interspersed at intervals throughout the list. Approximately 6 words are acted out and then discussed until mastered. Then an additional 6 are acted out and then discussed and the first 6 are reviewed etc. . After students see the teacher model leading the activity, they can become leaders of the actions and pantomime. They can lead the activity for new words or/and for review of the previously introduced words.

After the words are pantomimed and then discussed, students can illustrate each word. The Descriptive Word Lists in The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists are an excellent resource when choosing words for this activity. Below are examples of some words that can be used.

ACT-OUT ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS
Amazed
Challenging
Busy
Careful
Calm
Clever
Affectionate
Perplexed
Furious
Inexplicable
Dignified
Perilous
Impatient
Overwhelmed
Confident
Tense
Frightened
Gentle
Arrogant
Shrewd
Stealthily
Distinguished
Brave
Embarrassed
Excellent
Discouraged
Sympathetic
Nauseated
Optimistic
Eager
Urgent
Innocuous