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Adjectives & Adverbs: Describing Words

Third graders learn describing words — adjectives that describe nouns (a RED ball) and adverbs that describe verbs (ran QUICKLY) — to make their writing more vivid and clear.

Grade 3Grammar50 minutes1 class periodReading WorkshopExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain adjectives.
  • ✓Explain adverbs.
  • ✓Tell them apart.
  • ✓Use them in writing.
Essential Question

A ball is a ball — but a big, red, bouncy ball is much more interesting! What kinds of words help us describe things and actions?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Adjective or Adverb?

Project this and sort each describing word into adjectives (describe nouns) or adverbs (describe verbs — often end in -ly).

✍️ Sort each word — adjective or adverb?Try it
🔴 Adjective (describes a noun)
🏃 Adverb (describes a verb)
Tap a word, then tap a bucket.
The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Connect — Make It Vivid

5 min

“A ball” vs. “a big, red, bouncy ball” — which is more interesting?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Compare a plain and a vivid noun.
  • Ask what made it better.
  • Set the goal: describing words.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Compare them.
  • See the difference.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Teach — Adjectives & Adverbs

12 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Adjectives describe nouns.
  • Adverbs describe verbs (often -ly).
  • Give examples of each.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn adjectives.
  • Learn adverbs.
  • Hear examples.
3

Active Engagement — Sort Together

13 min

Class uses Adjective or Adverb?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sort each word.
  • Ask “describes a noun or a verb?”
  • Use it in a sentence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort words.
  • Ask the question.
  • Use one.
4

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students describe.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Add adjectives to nouns.
  • Add adverbs to verbs.
  • Write a vivid sentence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Add adjectives.
  • Add adverbs.
  • Write one.
5

Share — Share

5 min

Students share a word.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Invite an adjective and an adverb.
  • Use each in a sentence.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Share words.
  • Use them.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

CCSS
L.3.1a

Explain the function of adjectives and adverbs.

CCSS
L.3.1g

Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs.

CCSS
L.3.1

Demonstrate command of standard English grammar.

CCSS
W.3.3

Use descriptive words to develop writing.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Use picture word cards.
  • Sentence frame: “The ___ describes the ___.”
  • Act out adverbs.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with adjectives.
  • Use clear examples.
  • Sort a few at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Use comparative forms (-er, -est).
  • Add adjectives and adverbs to a story.
  • Find them in a book.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🗂️Word cards
  • 💻Adjective or Adverb?
  • 🖍️Pencils
  • 📚A picture book
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

adjectivea word that describes a nounadverba word that describes a verbdescribeto tell more aboutnouna person, place, or thingverban action word-lyan ending on many adverbsvividclear and livelymodifyto describe or change
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does an adjective describe?
A noun (a person, place, or thing) — like a RED ball.
QUESTION 2
What does an adverb describe?
A verb (an action) — like ran QUICKLY.
QUESTION 3
In “The fluffy cat slept quietly,” which word is the adverb?
Quietly (it tells how the cat slept).

Growing at home? Describe it!

Have families play a describing game — add adjectives to objects (a soft, blue pillow) and adverbs to actions (jump high!). A printable describing-words sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Adjectives & AdverbsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Adjectives & AdverbsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Adjectives & AdverbsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: -ly, adjective, adverb, describe, modify, noun, verb, vivid
  1. to tell more about
  2. clear and lively
  3. to describe or change
  4. a word that describes a noun
  5. an action word
  6. an ending on many adverbs
  7. a word that describes a verb
  8. a person, place, or thing

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does an adjective describe?
  2. What does an adverb describe?
  3. In “The fluffy cat slept quietly,” which word is the adverb?
Answer key — Part A: 1) describe · 2) vivid · 3) modify · 4) adjective · 5) verb · 6) -ly · 7) adverb · 8) noun
Part B: 1) A noun (a person, place, or thing) — like a RED ball. 2) A verb (an action) — like ran QUICKLY. 3) Quietly (it tells how the cat slept).