Understanding Nouns at the Intermediate Level

Students will:

• Understand the definition of nouns.
• Understand the use of nouns in a sentence.
• Apply their knowledge in their own writing.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Noun: A noun is any member of a class of words that can function as the main or only elements of subjects of verbs (A dog just barked), or of objects of verbs or prepositions (to send money from home), and that in English can take plural forms and possessive endings (Three of his buddies want to borrow John's laptop).
   • Nouns are often described as referring to persons, places, things, states, or qualities

To prepare for this lesson:
 

• Watch the Schoolhouse Rock video, A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing for the song.
   
• Watch the Spongebob video and the instructional video from Turtle Diary about common nouns to help review.
   
• Read over the Types of Nouns to communicate to students about the differences and watch the Plural Nouns video.
   
• Try the Parts of Speech game (Noun, Verb, Adjective sorting).
   
• Play Irregular Plural Nouns Matching Game, Multiplayer Basketball Game - TurtleDiary, Hangman, and Rags to Riches to practice.
   
• Do evaluations: Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade; choose the most appropriate noun topic.
   
• Create your own Word Cloud of nouns.

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:
 

1. Introduction: Have students watch three videos that explain nouns in an interesting way. Watch the Schoolhouse Rock video, A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing, a Spongebob video, and the instructional video about plural nouns.
    
2. Then explain that they are more sophisticated writers, and there are other types of nouns. Read over the Types of Nouns to communicate to students about the differences and watch Plural and Singular Nouns video.
    
3. Then have them apply their knowledge by playing games, doing assessments, writing, and creating a Word Cloud presentation.
    
4. Activity: Allow them to practice their learning by playing several games.
   • Try the Parts of Speech game (Noun, Verb, Adjective sorting) 
   • Play Irregular Plural Nouns Matching Game, Multiplayer Basketball Game - TurtleDiary, Hangman, and Rags to Riches to practice.

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• Do evaluations: Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade after choosing the most appropriate noun topic.
• Students can go on a noun walk and write down as many nouns as they can in a specific amount of time and create their own Word Cloud of nouns with a group or individually. May print and make a poster or share online.
• Create a “Can You Spot the Difference” photo by using an online photo (CC) and changing it slightly to challenge a friend to spot it.