A little acting can help reinforce the idea of what an adverb is, and how it can complement an accompanying verb.

Ask all the children in the class to write down the present participle of a verb secretly on a slip of paper, then to do the same with an adverb of their choice. Fold the pieces of paper and put all the verbs in one box and all the adverbs in another.

Invite a child to come up and pick a verb and an adverb from the boxes.

Their job is to act out the random combination; speaking is not allowed.

Thus they may pretend, for instance, to swim sadly. Other pupils are invited to guess the verb and adverb.

A point could be gained both for a correct guess and a convincing piece of acting from the child.

This activity is great fun and adaptable and could be used as a regular lesson starter or “spare time” game Paul Warnes is a supply teacher in Kent

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