Teaching ideas and resources to use in class when introducing nouns
in Kindergarten and First Grade.
When starting to teach the different parts of speech, most programs start by teaching common nouns as it is the least abstract concept to teach kindergarten aged children.
Children are already able to name what they can see around them by this stage.
Nouns are the names we give people, places and things. Teaching the concept of nouns is just putting a label to something they already do.
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I start by focusing on nouns around us in the classroom - things that can be touched.
Using our interactive whiteboard, I have 2-3 children at a time move around the room and touch something to make a list of nouns together.
I also introduce the idea that nouns can also be people - girl, boy, teacher, student, and places - school, classroom, library, office.
In a follow up lesson, we revise what nouns are 👉 people, place or thing, then work together as a group to sort these picture cards from our Noun Sorting Pack in to three groups - people, places and things (objects + animals).
As a follow on activity I have my class work in small groups to complete their own noun posters together like these ones created by Kindergarten Smiles. I love this task and have used many times while introducing nouns.
Children are often better at expressing themselves through drawing at this age so it's a perfect way to check their understanding so far. Collaborating helps those uncertain learn about the concept again from their peers. The students become the teachers.
Some will want to use the sorting cards to help them think of different nouns and others will want to use them to help write the word correctly.
Some will want to use the sorting cards to help them think of different nouns and others will want to use them to help write the word correctly.
I'm often using our literacy centres to help reinforce concepts taught in lessons so I add these Noun Clip Cards in our literacy rotations during the following weeks for children further practice independently sorting nouns.
It's the perfect activity for strengthening fine motor skills as well.
Later in the semester, I'll add the same activity back in to our literacy rotations followed by our Noun Sorting Centre.
With older grades, I ask that they record the cards they sorted to check their accuracy.
Once the children have been taught about nouns, verbs and adjectives, I also use these word sticks as a literacy centre.
Easy to make, this activity is reliant on having some capable readers in each group so I tend to use this one with Yr 1s and 2s.
