Using Adjectives to Compare: Dare to Compare

Lesson Procedure:

1. Draw students’ attention to the images illustrating adjectives displayed around the classroom. Point to one of the pictures and ask students how they would describe the object in it. For example, if it’s a black kitten, they may say black, little, cute, furry, etc. Write the words they say on the board. Remind students that all of these are adjectives--words that describe things.
2. Now invite two students to the front of the class who differ in height (be careful not to select students who may feel sensitive about their height). Ask the class how the two students differ in height? Be sure they say something like [Maria] is taller than [Ellie] OR [Ellie] is shorter than [Maria]. Now invite a third student who is taller or shorter than the two others. Prompt students to describe the third student’s height. They should say something like [Jack] is the tallest.
3. Explain to the class that we can use adjectives, such as tall, to compare two or more things or nouns, in this case students.
4. Now display the BrainPOP Jr. movie Using Adjectives to Compare on an interactive whiteboard for the whole class. Pause as needed to reinforce student understanding. 
5. After the movie, divide the class into groups of three. Instruct them to select a noun. Remind them that a noun is a person, place or thing. If they have trouble coming up with a noun, encourage them to look around the classroom, in picture books, or give them a category, like animals, fruit, etc. Or, for even more support, you can provide them with a list of nouns.
6. Now have one student in the group describe the noun in a sentence, using an adjective. (e.g., Our school is big). Have a second student compare the noun to something else using the same adjective (e.g., Our school is bigger than a house). Finally have the third student use the superlative form of the adjective (e.g., Our school is the biggest building on the street).
7. Play enough rounds of the game so that everyone has a chance to use the comparative and superlative forms of an adjective.
8. Conclude the lesson by challenging students to the Easy or Hard Quiz to assess their understanding.