Lesson Title: Introduction to Action and Helping Verbs
Lesson Author: Channing Lodari
Grade Level: 4th, 5th, and 6th
Subject: English as a Second Language
Classroom Layout: Students will be seated in a semi-circle facing the board and the
teacher. This will be a whole-group lesson.
Allotted Time for Lesson: ~45 minutes
Short Lesson Description: Students will learn what verbs are. They will play a warm-up
game that requires them to access their vocabulary and identify verbs that start with a
given letter. Then students will learn the terminologies “action” and “helping” verbs and
sort verbs accordingly. Students will complete a worksheet on identifying action/helping
verbs.
Standards Met in this Lesson:
L.1 Comprehend spoken instructions.
L.1.1 Follow one-step directions.
L.1.2 Follow two-step directions.
L.1.3 Follow multiple-step directions.
W.2.3 Construct correct sentences, including a variety of sentence types and styles.
R.3 Comprehend written instructions.
R.3.1 Follow one-step directions.
R.3.2 Follow two-step directions.
R.3.3 Follow multiple-step directions.
R.3.4 Use knowledge of sentence structure.
Grade Level Expectations for English Language Arts
GLE 0401.1.1 Demonstrate knowledge of Standard English usage, mechanics, and
spelling.
Checks for Understanding (Formative/Summative Assessment)
From 0401.1.1 Know and use appropriately the meaning, forms, and functions of verbs
(including action).
From 0501.1.4 Capitalize sentence beginnings.
0501.1.5 Use correct end of sentence punctuation.
Materials/Resources Needed for Lesson:
1) Dry-erase board and markers
2) Action/Helping Verbs Handout
3) Worksheet on helping and action verbs
Lesson Set: “Do you remember from yesterday what a verb is? A verb is an action or a
state of being. Can you name some verbs? Let’s play our game with verbs. I will give you
a letter, and you will write as many verbs as you can think of that start with that letter.”
Procedures:
1) Play the initial letter/verb game. Have students share their lists out loud. On the
last letter you use, create your own list. Use action and helping verbs in your list.
Write your list on the board. (10 minutes)
2) Pass out the action/helping verbs handout. Review what an action verb is—
something you can see happening. Introduce the term “helping” verbs. Explain
that a helping verb is a word that “helps” the action verbs. Sometimes the helping
verbs can be alone too, so they are tricky. Draw two columns on the board—one
for action verbs and one for helping verbs. Categorize your words into action and
helping groups. (5 minutes)
3) Write sentences combining the helping verbs with the action verbs to show how
they help and change the meaning. (2 minutes)
4) Write another list of words on the board. Call on each student individually and
give him one word to categorize under the appropriate column. Give each student
two turns. (5 minutes)
5) Give each student an action or helping verb (one at a time) and ask him to write a
sentence using the word on the board. Identify nouns and other action/helping
verbs they use in their sentences. (10 minutes)
6) Give students the worksheet on helping and action verbs. Give students plenty of
time to work independently. Circulate the room to check work. (~15 minutes)
Modifications: Let all students use their action/helping verbs handout when they do their
independent work. If students are struggling with categorizing, do not give the
independent work but create more examples on the board and have each student identify
the verb types.
Assessment: The students will individually be called on to sort the verbs into the
appropriate category. The worksheets will be collected as a more formal assessment of
student mastery/understanding.