Grade: Middle
Subject: Language

#3634. Adjective Riddles

Language, level: Middle
Posted Tue Jan 31 12:56:51 PST 2006 by Lori Foster (fosterlb@pickens.k12.sc.us).
Gettys Middle School, Easley, US
Materials Required: Marshmallows, assorted hard candy (like peppermints or fruit flavored), pens/pencils, notebook paper
Activity Time: About 30 minutes depending on skill level
Concepts Taught: Adjective identification and usage

Adjective Riddles
Objective: The student will be able to correctly identify and use ten adjectives to describe objects in writing.

Procedures: 1. The teacher will orally question
students to pre-access their
knowledge of adjectives by asking
"How many of you remember what an
adjective does?"
2.The teacher will supply the
students with the following
information (orally, on dry erase
board, or overhead depending on
preference):
Adjectives are DESCRIPTIVE
words!
Examples: pretty, sleepy,
green, tall, or fat
Today you will be creating an adjective riddle. you will be given a small edible substance in a napkin to try. DO NOT reveal the name of your substance to the people around you! You will then describe the sound, taste, appearance, and smell of the substance using 10 adjectives on paper. You will use this format.
"I am ..."
REMEMBER NOT TO USE THE NAME OF THE EDIBLE SUBSTANCE!
3. The teacher will pass out the marshmallows and candy, wrapped in napkins, to students. The students will have a time frame given to them to complete their description. Time frame varies based on skills and needs of the class.
4. When the students finish the writing, the teacher will ask them to trade riddles with a partner. The partner must have no idea what edible substance the person ate. The partner will identify which words are adjectives in the riddle and then use the clues in the riddle to solve it.
For example: This might be a good riddle for a marshmallow, "I am squishy and loud. I make a sound like snow crunching when I am eaten. I am soft, smooth, white, and sugarcoated. I smell sweet. taste pleasant, cool, and delicate."
5. Students will read their riddles out loud for sharing before they are passed in to the teacher.

Accommodations/modifications: You need to check records and/or parents in case any of the students have food allergies or allergic reactions.