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Can Words Be Superpowers?

Lesson Plan

Unleashing Word Power

Students will be able to identify and utilize vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives to enhance their creative writing, moving beyond common and bland language to create more engaging narratives.

Learning to use strong, descriptive language helps students make their writing more exciting and impactful. It allows their stories to truly come alive for readers, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of their narratives.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Through interactive activities and targeted practice, students will explore and apply descriptive language.

Materials

Beyond 'Said' and 'Went' Slides, Verb & Adjective Swap Challenge, Show, Don't Tell Practice Page, and My New Favorite Word Exit Ticket

Prep

Preparation Checklist

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: The Power of Words (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "Can words be superpowers?" (Refer to the lesson title to spark interest).
  • Show the first slide of the Beyond 'Said' and 'Went' Slides and engage students in a brief discussion about how words can make us feel, imagine, or understand things more deeply.

Step 2

Exploring Vivid Verbs & Descriptive Adjectives (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Use the Beyond 'Said' and 'Went' Slides to introduce the concepts of vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives.
  • Discuss examples of common verbs and adjectives versus their more powerful counterparts. Encourage students to suggest alternatives.
  • Facilitate a short mini-whiteboard activity or quick oral responses where students brainstorm better words for simple sentences presented on the slides.

Step 3

Activity: Verb & Adjective Swap Challenge (20 minutes)

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Verb & Adjective Swap Challenge activity sheet.
  • Explain the instructions: Students will work individually or in pairs to replace bland verbs and adjectives in given sentences with more vivid and descriptive options.
  • Circulate around the room to provide support and encourage creative thinking. Have a few students share their favorite transformations with the class.

Step 4

Practice: Show, Don't Tell (15 minutes)

15 minutes

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Slide Deck

Can Words Be Superpowers?

What if your words could...

  • Paint a picture in your reader's mind?
  • Make emotions jump off the page?
  • Bring your stories to life like magic?

They can! Get ready to unleash your word power!

Welcome students and introduce the exciting idea of words having special powers! Ask them if they've ever read something that really made them feel like they were there, or seen something clearly in their mind's eye. Connect this to the power of descriptive words.

Tired Words vs. Superpower Words

Some words are like everyday clothes: useful, but a bit plain.

  • Tired Verbs: went, said, ran, walked, looked
  • Tired Adjectives: good, bad, nice, big, small

Superpower words are like capes and masks! They make your sentences exciting and memorable!

Introduce the idea that some words are 'tired' or 'plain' and we can swap them for 'superpower' words. Give a simple example like 'The dog went.' vs. 'The dog bounded.'

Vivid Verbs: Action! Action! Action!

Verbs show action. Make your actions pop!

Instead of 'The boy ran down the street,' try:

  • The boy sprinted down the street.
  • The boy dashed down the street.
  • The boy bolted down the street.

Instead of 'She said hello,' try:

  • She whispered hello.
  • She shouted hello.
  • She mumbled hello.

Focus on verbs first. Give examples of common verbs and ask students to brainstorm more exciting alternatives. Encourage them to think about how someone 'walked' or 'said' something.

Descriptive Adjectives: Paint a Picture!

Adjectives describe nouns. Make your descriptions unforgettable!

Instead of 'The big house,' try:

  • The enormous house.
  • The sprawling house.
  • The weathered house.

Instead of 'He had a nice smile,' try:

  • He had a warm smile.
  • He had a mischievous smile.
  • He had a radiant smile.

Now shift to adjectives. Emphasize how adjectives add detail and help readers visualize. Again, ask for student input.

Show, Don't Tell: Experience, Don't Just Report!

Instead of telling your reader how a character feels or what something is like, show them through actions, descriptions, and dialogue.

Telling: She was scared.

Showing: Her hands trembled, and she clutched the blanket tightly, her eyes darting around the dark room.

See the difference? Which one makes you feel more?

Explain the concept of 'Show, Don't Tell' as a way to use their superpower words. Give a clear example, showing how one is more engaging than the other.

Your Mission: Word Swap Challenge!

Get ready to transform sentences!

  • You'll receive a worksheet with 'tired' sentences.
  • Your job: Replace the bland verbs and adjectives with exciting, superpower words!
  • Work individually or with a partner. Be creative!

Introduce the next activity, the 'Verb & Adjective Swap Challenge.' Briefly explain what they will be doing.

Next Up: Show, Don't Tell!

Now, let's practice showing instead of just telling.

  • You'll get a worksheet with some 'telling' sentences.
  • Your goal: Rewrite them to 'show' the reader what's happening or how someone feels.
  • Use vivid verbs and descriptive adjectives to make your writing come alive!

Introduce the 'Show, Don't Tell Practice Page' and reiterate the goal.

Unleash Your Inner Author!

You now have a secret weapon: Superpower Words!

Use them to:

  • Make your stories shine.
  • Captivate your readers.
  • Express yourself clearly and creatively.

Your writing will never be boring again!

Conclude by reminding students how powerful their words can be. Ask them to think about how they'll use their new 'superpowers' in their writing. Then, introduce the cool-down activity.

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Activity

Verb & Adjective Swap Challenge

Instructions: Read each sentence below. Underline the bland verb or adjective. Then, rewrite the sentence, replacing the underlined word with a more vivid and descriptive "superpower word" to make the sentence more exciting! You can add or change a few other words to make your new sentence flow better.

Example:

  • Original: The dog walked across the yard.
  • New: The dog trotted gracefully across the yard.

  1. The boy ran to the store.






  2. She said she was happy.






  3. The flower was pretty.






  4. He ate his lunch quickly.






  5. The old car made a loud noise.






  6. The big tree stood in the park.






  7. She walked into the room.






  8. The good student finished her homework.






  9. The wind blew softly.






  10. The water was cold.






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Worksheet

Show, Don't Tell Practice Page

Instructions: For each sentence below, rewrite it to show the emotion or description, rather than just telling it. Use vivid verbs, descriptive adjectives, and sensory details to bring your sentences to life! Remember, make your reader feel or see it.

Example:

  • Telling: She was angry.
  • Showing: Her face turned a furious shade of crimson, and she slammed her fist onto the table, making the glasses jump.

  1. He was tired.











  2. The food was delicious.











  3. She was scared.











  4. The dog was happy.











  5. It was a boring day.











  6. He was nervous.











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Cool Down

My New Favorite Word Exit Ticket

Instructions: Reflect on today's lesson about using superpower words.

  1. What is one new vivid verb or descriptive adjective you learned or rediscovered today?





  2. Write a sentence using your new favorite word.







  3. Why do you think using words like this can make your writing better? Explain in 1-2 sentences.











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Can Words Be Superpowers? • Lenny Learning