1st Grade Writing Lesson 19: Adding Describing Words (Adjectives)

Objective

I can add describing words (adjectives) to make my sentences clearer and more interesting.

Materials

Sharpened pencil
Eraser
Ruled paper (primary lines preferred)

Mini-lesson — Describing words paint a picture

A describing word is like a color brush. It helps your reader picture the noun (person, place, or thing).

What do adjectives describe?

Size: tiny, big
Color: red, blue
How it feels: soft, rough
How it looks: shiny, messy

Where do they go?

Often right before a noun: big dog.
Sometimes after “is”: The dog is big.

Use one good describing word

Too many adjectives can feel crowded.
Pick the best one for your picture.

Ask yourself: "Did my describing word help my reader see it?"

Guided Practice — Add describing words

Choose 3 sentences from the Trace menu and copy them neatly on paper. Then use the Tracing Pad to practice words, sentences, and marks.

Tracing Pad

Lines Trace

Pen

Drag & Drop — Upgrade the sentence with one describing word

Drag the words to build the upgraded sentence. Add one describing word.

The fast dog ran .

I saw a tiny cat .

We ate red apples .

The fluffy bunny hopped .

I held a shiny coin .

Quick Check — Describing words (adjectives)

Answer each question about adjectives and where to place them.

An adjective is a…

describing word punctuation mark number

Adjectives often describe…

end marks nouns erasers

In “red ball”, the adjective is…

ball the red

Adjectives often go…

before the noun after the period inside the pencil

What is usually best?

five adjectives in a row one strong adjective zero nouns

Adjectives help because they…

make letters float remove spacing paint a picture

Which word describes how something feels?

soft yesterday quickly

Which word describes color?

run blue because

Which word describes size?

jump inside tiny

Your describing word should…

make the sentence clearer make the sentence messy remove the noun

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Identifies adjectives as describing words Places an adjective before the noun in simple sentences Improves a plain sentence by adding one clear adjective Keeps writing clear (not too many describing words)

Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can add a describing word that paints a picture. 🙂 I can do it, but I need more practice picking the best adjective. 😅 Choosing the best describing word still feels tricky.

I will practice…

What adjectives are Where adjectives go Picking one strong adjective