Adjectives — Year 1 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: English Appendix 2 — Grammar: words (nouns, adjectives) — Year 1
Overview
Pupils learn to identify and use adjectives to describe nouns, understanding that adjectives make writing more interesting and precise. They practise using adjectives in sentences and begin to use them to improve their own descriptive writing.
Learning Objectives
- Understand that adjectives are describing words that tell us more about a noun.
- Identify adjectives in sentences.
- Use adjectives to improve a simple sentence.
- Choose precise adjectives to create a clear picture for the reader.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Show a picture of an animal (e.g. a fox). Ask pupils to call out words that describe it. Collect on the board. Introduce: all these words are adjectives — they tell us what the fox is like.
Explain adjectives using familiar examples: 'the big dog', 'a red apple', 'three shiny coins'. Model how adding an adjective before a noun changes the picture in the reader's mind. Compare: 'The cat sat on the mat' vs 'The tiny, striped cat sat on the soft mat'.
Pupils choose adjectives from a word bank to improve a set of simple sentences. Then swap with a partner: did they choose different adjectives? Why?
Pupils write three sentences describing a picture, using at least one adjective in each sentence. Encourage them to think of their own adjectives rather than using the word bank.
Share two sentences: one with no adjectives, one with adjectives. Which creates a better picture? Pupils explain why.
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils sometimes use adjectives after the noun ('the cat big') rather than before it — reinforce correct word order in English.
- Overusing 'nice', 'big', and 'good' — encourage pupils to think of more precise alternatives.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Ability to identify nouns (naming words).
- Experience describing things verbally in class discussion.
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