Write Silly Sentences to Master Verb Tenses

What You Need:

• 20 index cards
• 2 paper bags or small boxes
• Markers
• Drawing paper

What You Do:

1. Write each of the following nouns on its own index card: dog, house, bus, ladybug, elephant, mother, father, table, boat. Or, if your child has any special interests or hobbies, feel free to substitute any of these words with other words!
2. When you're done with the nouns, write each of the following verbs on its own index card: Fly, sit, run, sleep, sail, jump, climb, walk, ride, eat. Again, feel free to substitute any words if your child has any special interests.
3. Get a paper bag and have your child label it "Nouns" with a marker, and put the cards with nouns on them inside the bag. Ask your child to explain to you what a noun is.
4. Do the same with the other paper bag. Have your child label it "Verbs" and put the verb cards inside of it. Ask them if they would explain what a verb is.
5. Then, ask your child to take out a card from the verb bag and a card from the noun bag, and lay both cards on the table.
6. Have your child come up with a sentence using the noun and the verb they just picked out of the bag. Encourage them to make it silly and outrageous! Let them know that they can use any tense of the verb they want and that they can add prepositions, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs to the sentence. If they seem stuck, help them come up with something.
7. Once they think up a sentence, have them write it at the bottom of a piece of paper.
8. Then give them the markers and let them illustrate it.
9. Draw as many pairs of cards as you wish, and have your child come up with a sentence and picture each time. Note: if you've used all the cards, make more with new words so you can keep playing.
10. Hang the pictures around the house for everyone to enjoy!
11. If you want to add an extra twist to this game, have the whole family come up with a silly sentence using the same noun and verb. It's a great game that lets everyone show their goofy, creative side!