You will learn
- Say what a describing word is.
- Use describing words for colour and size.
- Use describing words for feelings.
- Use describing words in sentences.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Describing words tell about a person, animal or thing.
- They tell colour, size, shape and feeling.
- They are also called adjectives.
- Describing words make sentences more interesting.
Words to know
a word that tells about something
the grammar name for a describing word
red, blue, green and so on
how big or small
1. Discover: The red ball
Ama has a ball. “It is a ball,” she says. Her teacher asks, “What kind of ball?” Ama says, “It is a big, red, round ball!” Now we can picture it.
Think: What describing words can you use for your bag?
2. Understand: Describing words
Idea 1: Colour, size, shape
Describing words can tell colour (red), size (big), or shape (round).
Idea 2: Feelings and more
They can tell how something feels or looks: soft, hot, happy, loud.
Idea 3: In sentences
“The big dog is brown.” Describing words help us picture things.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Find the describing word
The big dog ran. Which word describes the dog?
- Ask: what kind of dog?
- Find the describing word.
Answer: big
Example 2 (We do it together): Add a describing word
Ama has a ___ hat. (red/run)
- Which word describes?
- Pick it.
Answer: red
Example 3 (You try): Feeling word
How does a puppy feel when it is not sad?
Show the steps and answer
- Think of feelings.
- Find a word.
Answer: happy
Did you know?
Writers pick describing words carefully to help readers see, hear and feel what they describe.
Why this matters
Describing words help us say exactly what we mean.
4. Explore: Describe it
Describe an object.
- Choose an object.
- Say its colour, size and shape.
- Say how it feels.
- Ask a friend to guess it.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can describe things with many words.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- It is a ___ ___.
- The ___ is ___.
- It feels ___.
- It looks ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. The big dog ran. Describing word?
big
Question 2. Ama has a ___ hat. (red/run)
red
Question 3. What colour is the sun?
yellow
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A ball can be ___. (round/run)
- Ice is ___. (cold/jump)
- The sun is ___. (hot/slow)
- Name a colour.
- A describing word tells ___ something.
Level 2: Grow
- Describe a mouse in two words.
- Which word describes size: big or red?
- Which describes feeling: happy or table?
Level 3: Stretch
- Write a sentence with two describing words.
- Why do we use describing words?
- Kofi says run is a describing word. Is he right?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Describe a family member’s favourite thing to them.
Show a sample answer
It is a small, blue cup.
Another one. Draw an animal and label it with describing words.
Show a sample answer
A big, brown, soft bear.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Describing words tell what it is like.
Fix: Use more to give a clear picture.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what a describing word is.
- I can use colour and size words.
- I can use feeling words.
- I can use describing words in sentences.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Describing words tell more about things.
- They tell colour, size, shape and feeling.
- They are called adjectives.
- They make writing interesting.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Opposites. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a describing word? [1 mark]
- Name two describing words for a ball. [2 marks]
- The big dog ran. Which word describes the dog? [1 mark]
- Write a sentence with a describing word. [2 marks]
- Explain why we use describing words. [3 marks]
Total: 9 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- a word that tells about something [1]
- one valid word [1]; another valid word [1]
- big [1]
- uses a describing word [1]; full sentence [1]
- they tell more about things [1]; they help us picture them [1]; they make sentences interesting [1]
Score guide: 8 to 9 = secure. 6 to 7 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Colour word:
- Size word:
- Shape word:
- Feeling word:
- Ice is ___.
- The sun is ___.
- Another name for a describing word:
- True or false: run is a describing word.
- Describe your pencil in two words.
- Write a sentence with two describing words.
Homework
Describe five things at home using two describing words each.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Colour word: | red (or any colour) | 1 |
| 2. Size word: | big (or small) | 1 |
| 3. Shape word: | round (or square) | 1 |
| 4. Feeling word: | happy (or sad) | 1 |
| 5. Ice is ___. | cold | 1 |
| 6. The sun is ___. | hot | 1 |
| 7. Another name for a describing word: | adjective | 1 |
| 8. True or false: run is a describing word. | false | 1 |
| 9. Describe your pencil in two words. | two valid words | 1 |
| 10. Write a sentence with two describing words. | a valid sentence | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 round; 2 cold; 3 hot; 4 e.g. red; 5 about. Level 2: 1 e.g. small, grey; 2 big; 3 happy. Level 3: 1 a valid sentence; 2 to tell more about things; 3 no, it is an action word.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what a describing word is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Use describing words for colour and size | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use describing words for feelings | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Use describing words in sentences | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Using an action word as a describing word. Describing words tell what it is like.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use real objects and ask what colour or size.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns words that describe things. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Describe things together.
- Ask: what is it like?
- Play I spy with describing words.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what a describing word is; use describing words for colour and size; use describing words for feelings; use describing words in sentences.
Prerequisite knowledge. Action words.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Show a ball and ask what it is like.
Explanation (10 min). Teach colour, size and feeling words.
Guided activity (10 min). Play describe it.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners share their descriptions.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What is it like? What colour? What size? How does it feel?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and one word at a time. Extension. Use more exact words, such as huge instead of big.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Using an action word as a describing word. Describing words tell what it is like.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 9-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use real objects and ask what colour or size. Enrichment. Write a paragraph describing a favourite place. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 1 » Language. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core L.1.1.f (use frequently occurring adjectives) and L.1.5.d; Education Endowment Foundation Improving Literacy in Key Stage 1 guidance (vocabulary); Cambridge Primary English Stage 1 (vocabulary and grammar). These sources informed the lesson.