Adverbs, Adverbs Everywhere!

Word play games as simple as this build language flexibility that your child will find valuable throughout life in speaking, reading and writing.

Activity: Adverbs, Adverbs Everywhere!
First, just check with yourself that you understand that words that describe verbs are adverbs. Adverbs answer the questions Where?, When?, Why?, or How? about the action of a sentence. This activity is about the question How?

1. Explain how the game works: You will make up a very simple sentence, such as “We waited.” Your child then thinks of as many ways of adding adverbs as she can – but all of them must answer the question How? For instance:

   He waited patiently.
   He waited angrily.
   Patiently, he waited.
   He waited sadly.

   Your child’s turn ends when she runs out of ideas or makes a mistake, such as, “He waited sad.”

   Together, count how many versions she can make. If you are using paper and pencil, jot down each adverb she uses for each sentence. If not, you can count a finger for each one and when she gets to ten, put a mark. That way, when she’s finished, it will be easy to total how many she makes. (Another good opportunity for math practice by having her tally when it’s your turn!)

2. To reinforce her understanding of adverbs, ask your child to act out some of the sentences and ask questions about the sentences like, “How could you tell?”

   If she uses adverbs that describe where or when, tell her that she is right, those are adverbs, just not ones that answer the question How?

3. Take your turn. Remind your child that now is her chance to catch you if you make a mistake. (Be ready also to answer her questions about your sentences and to do your share of acting out how.) Be sure to use adjectives occasionally so that she stays on her toes to catch your mistakes.




4. Stop as soon as your child’s interest begins to flag. Return to the game as a pleasurable way to pass time, for instance in the doctor’s or dentist’s waiting room or while doing dishes together.

Vary the rules to play in ways that work best for your child. For instance, you might take turns supplying the how adverb for the same sentence until one of you gets stuck or makes a mistake.

Have you seen variations of this activity? What are your favorite games to help your child practice writing and reading skills like adjectives and adverbs?

Activity from Making the Grade: Grades 3-4, Creating a Successful Learning Environment at Home.