Subject/Object Switch

This game uses humor to show the difference between subjects and direct objects.

Choose two or more pictures from the links below; print them out. Allow children to color them if desired.  Create small cards for each word (see template below).   Have your child try to create the sentence that describes each picture; do the first one as an example.  Next, ask them to find the verb and the nouns.  Show them what happens when you switch the two nouns; explain the difference between subjects and direct objects.  (For an older child who enjoys drawing, ask them to draw the picture; then ask them to draw the picture when the nouns are switched).

Refer to the lessons on Subjects and Direct Objects for help with explaining these concepts.

• Subject
• Who? + verb 
• What? + verb
• Direct Object
• verb + What?
• verb + Whom?

The elephant plays the cello.
The bear rides the bicycle.
The bird drinks the nectar.
The rabbit picks a flower.
The cat plays the fiddle.
The crocodile holds the balloons.
The mermaid rides the dolphin.
The duck wears a hat.
The lion eyes the cheetahs.
The squirrel eats a nut.

Subject Object Switch (click here to download Word file)

Magnetic Poetry

Use magnetic poetry to teach or reinforce concepts.

Nouns / Verbs
Sort the magnets into piles of nouns and verbs.  Next, try to pair nouns and verbs into combinations that make sense (or not!).

Nouns / Adjectives.  
Repeat Nouns/Verbs above, using adjectives instead of verbs.

Pronouns
Have the child write a small poem.  Use the method from Nouns/Verbs above if it helps get him started.  Rearrange and replace some of the words with pronouns (see images below).

Subject / Predicate
Create sentences with the magnets.  Here is one idea:

(This game coincides with the Subject 1 lesson, and combines ideas from all of the above.)

1. Pick out a few nouns and verbs; pair them up.
2. Arrange the pairs into a sequence.
3. Add in articles and adjectives.*
4. Add direct objects if desired.
5. Rearrange as needed to create a poem.
6. Copy the poem, remembering to capitalize the first letter and add a period at the end.

*I taught the Subject 1 lesson before Articles and Adjectives.  However, I still let my son add them in, with a brief explanation.  When we get to those lessons, they should be short because he will already have been exposed to them many times.

Pair up 3 nouns and 3 verbs

Add articles and conjunctions

Add adjectives. 

Have fun rearranging as desired, inserting
pronouns if it makes sense.
Copywork for this poem.

Collections

Help your child make "collections" of the different parts of speech.

Ways to Make Collections

• gather a pillowcases full of nouns
• find nouns in a room
• name nouns in a certain category (person, place, thing)
• name nouns/verbs in a certain location (kitchen, bathroom)
• name nouns/verbs in a certain activity (basketball, swimming)
• name nouns/verbs/adjectives that start with a certain letter
• name adjectives that describe a certain object
• name direct objects that go with a verb (lick + ice cream, + lollipops, + paws)

A box of nouns collected by the kids

Things To Do with Collections*

*Depends on the skill level of the child

• draw a picture
• create a book of pictures (Book of Nouns, Book of Verbs, etc)
• dictate list to mom
• copy/write list
• create a book of lists
• write a poem using the list
• write a story using the list

A list of nouns as dictated to Mom