Creative Ways to Teach Nouns to Fourth-Grade Students
Learning about nouns does not have to be boring. Incorporating an activity or game into a lesson plan creates a conducive atmosphere for learning and helps hold a student's attention. As a matter of fact, the student may have so much fun, he may not realize he is doing schoolwork.
Other People Are Reading
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Going on a Trip
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This game is an excellent teaching and memory tool. The first student begins by saying, "I am going on a trip and I am bringing a (blank)." He then states a noun that begins with the letter "A." The next student repeats the phrase including the noun representing the letter "A" and adds a noun beginning with the letter "B." The game may be played with rules similar to those of a spelling bee. Students unable to name a noun or remember the progressive list are eliminated from play. The game is finished when the alphabet is completed.
Concentration
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Add a twist to the popular card game. Use index cards to prepare sets of matching common and proper nouns. For instance, "Black Beauty" and "book" would constitute a correct match. Lay the cards face down on a table or floor. Students take turns choosing two cards. If a match is revealed, the student must use the words in a sentence. The student keeps the pair as a score and is allowed to choose again. The game is complete when all of the cards have been paired. The student who collects the most cards wins the game.
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Nouns in the News
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This activity helps students identify nouns and encourages interest in current affairs. The activity can be done individually or in small groups. Each student or group is given an age-appropriate newspaper or magazine article. The student divides a sheet of paper into three sections, labeling the sections singular, plural and possessive. The student lists the nouns in the article under the appropriate section of the chart.
Noun Town
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Each student in class creates a drawing of a person, a place and a thing. Each student places his three drawings on one poster board or large sheet of paper that represents a city or town. Once all of the pictures are in place, he may add roads, sidewalks or other items to complete "Noun Town."
Active Listening
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Each student is given a sheet of paper to write on. The teacher reads a short story or a poem to the class. As the student listens, he makes a list of the nouns mentioned. Make the activity a contest: The student with the longest correct list wins.
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References
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