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Nouns & Verbs: Naming Words & Action Words

First graders meet two of the most important kinds of words — nouns (naming words for people, places, and things) and verbs (action words for what we do) — the building blocks of every sentence.

Grade 1Grammar45 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 what a noun is.
  • ✓Explain what a verb is.
  • ✓Sort naming and action words.
  • ✓Use each in a sentence.
Essential Question

“The dog runs.” One word names something (dog) and one word tells the action (runs). Can you tell the naming words from the action words?

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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

Naming or Action?

Project this and sort each word into naming words (nouns) or action words (verbs). Ask: does it name something, or is it something we do?

📝 Sort each word — naming or action?Try it
📦 Naming (Noun)
🏃 Action (Verb)
Tap a word, then tap a bucket.
The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

45 minutes, five moves

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

1

Connect — The Dog Runs

5 min

“The dog runs” — which word names, which shows action?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Read a short sentence.
  • Point to the naming and action words.
  • Set the goal: nouns and verbs.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read the sentence.
  • Find the words.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Teach — Nouns & Verbs

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Nouns name people, places, things.
  • Verbs show actions.
  • Give examples of each.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn nouns.
  • Learn verbs.
  • Hear examples.
3

Active Engagement — Sort Together

12 min

Class uses Naming or Action?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sort each word.
  • Ask “name or do?”
  • Say a sentence with it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort each word.
  • Ask the question.
  • Use it.
4

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students sort and use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sort word cards.
  • Circle nouns and verbs in a sentence.
  • Write a sentence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort cards.
  • Circle words.
  • Write one.
5

Share — Share

5 min

Students share a word.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Invite a noun and a verb.
  • 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.1.1b

Use common, proper, and possessive nouns.

CCSS
L.1.1e

Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future.

CCSS
L.1.1

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar.

CCSS
L.1.5

Sort words into categories to gain word meaning.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Use picture word cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is a naming/action word.”
  • Act out the verbs.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with clear picture words.
  • Act out actions.
  • Sort a few at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find nouns and verbs in a book.
  • Add adjectives.
  • Change verb tense.
Materials

What to gather

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

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

nouna naming word (person, place, thing)verban action wordnaming wordanother name for a nounaction wordanother name for a verbpersonsomeone, like a girlplacesomewhere, like a parkthingan object, like a ballsentencea group of words with a full idea
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 is a noun?
A naming word — a person, place, or thing (like dog, school, or apple).
QUESTION 2
What is a verb?
An action word — something we do (like run, jump, or eat).
QUESTION 3
In “The cat sleeps,” which word is the verb?
Sleeps (the action).

Growing at home? Noun and verb hunt.

Have families point out naming words and action words all day — “There’s a bird (noun) — look, it flies (verb)!” A printable noun-and-verb 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.

🃏 Nouns & VerbsFlip
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.

📝 Nouns & VerbsQuiz
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.

🖨️ Nouns & VerbsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: action word, naming word, noun, person, place, sentence, thing, verb
  1. a group of words with a full idea
  2. another name for a noun
  3. somewhere, like a park
  4. another name for a verb
  5. a naming word (person, place, thing)
  6. someone, like a girl
  7. an action word
  8. an object, like a ball

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a noun?
  2. What is a verb?
  3. In “The cat sleeps,” which word is the verb?
Answer key — Part A: 1) sentence · 2) naming word · 3) place · 4) action word · 5) noun · 6) person · 7) verb · 8) thing
Part B: 1) A naming word — a person, place, or thing (like dog, school, or apple). 2) An action word — something we do (like run, jump, or eat). 3) Sleeps (the action).