Describing words

Ages 6 to 8 Read together, then try alone · about 15 minutes

Read together

Describing words tell more about a thing. They are called adjectives.

“A ball” is plain. “A big red ball” tells us more.

Good describing words help the reader see, hear and feel.

Do it

1. Pick an object, such as a shell or a leaf. Hold it. Look closely.
2. Write five describing words: how it looks, feels, smells, sounds.
3. Write a sentence using three of your words.
4. Read it aloud. Can a friend guess the object from your words?

Talk about it

• Which word is the best one?
• What describing words do you use for your favourite food?

For the grown-up

In English, describing words go before the thing: “a small blue bird”. In Spanish, they usually come after: “un pájaro azul pequeño”. In Filipino, they can come before, with a linking sound: “maliit na asul na ibon”. Comparing this is a nice way to talk about how languages work.

Mark as done

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Where this comes from

This is a play and practice activity with no factual claims to source.

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. Please read it before sharing it with a child.