SILENT READING

Imaginative Writing

Lesson 3: Expanding adjective

vocabulary for use in creative writing
Tuesday 26th March
 Homework Check from Friday

Highlight all the noun phrases.

Write one more paragraph to
continue today’s.

Challenge: turn into a mini

story
 Adjective bingo

• Look at the grid of words.

• You will be read a long list of words very
quickly; cross off each adjective as you hear it
and find it on the grid.
• Who will be the first to get a straight line of
adjectives?

Extension: Which adjectives could also be categorised as another

type of word, depending on the sentence?
 Identifying adjectives
• Count up the number of adjectives you
crossed off and compare with your partner.
• Discuss the definition of adjective with your
partner: how confident do you feel with your
understanding of the word?
• You are going to focus on expanding your
adjective vocabulary this lesson, aiming to use
them powerfully.
2 minutes-in
pairs
 Highlight the adjectives in this extract
“Certainly not. It’s a yo-yo.” Smithers pulled out the string, holding it
between a podgy finger and thumb. “However, the string is a special sort of
nylon. Very advanced. There are thirty metres of it and it can lift weights of
up to one hundred kilograms. The actual yo-yo is motorized and clips on to
your belt. Very useful for climbing.”
“Amazing.” Alex was unimpressed.
“And then there’s this.” Smithers produced a small tube. Alex read the side:
ZIT-CLEAN, FOR HEALTHIER SKIN. “Nothing personal,” Smithers went on
apologetically, “but we thought it was something a boy of your age might use.
And it is rather remarkable.” He opened the tube and squeezed some of the
cream on to his finger. “Completely harmless when you touch it. But bring it
into contact with metal and it’s quite another story.” He wiped his finger,
smearing the cream on to the surface of the table. For a moment nothing
happened. Then a wisp of acrid smoke twisted upwards in the air, the metal
sizzled and a jagged hole appeared.
Extension: Use a different colour to identify 2 minutes-
adverbs. alone
Replacing adjectives 5 minutes-in
In groups of four, can you find dynamic and groups
sophisticated adjectives for the gaps below?
“Certainly not. It’s a yo-yo.” Smithers pulled out the string, holding it between
a ________ finger and thumb. “However, the string is a ________ sort of
nylon. Very ____________. There are thirty metres of it and it can lift weights
of up to one hundred kilograms. The actual yo-yo is _________ and clips on to
your belt. Very __________ for climbing.”
“_____________.” Alex was ______________.
“And then there’s this.” Smithers produced a small tube. Alex read the side:
ZIT-CLEAN, FOR ____________ SKIN. “Nothing personal,” Smithers went on
apologetically, “but we thought it was something a boy of your age might use.
And it is rather ____________.” He opened the tube and squeezed some of
the cream on to his finger. “Completely ___________ when you touch it. But
bring it into contact with metal and it’s quite another story.” He wiped his
finger, smearing the cream on to the surface of the table. For a moment
nothing happened. Then a wisp of _________ smoke twisted upwards in the
air, the metal sizzled and a ____________ hole appeared.
Feed back to the board and add the best words to your bank!
 Using verbs as adjectives
• Words that are normally verbs can often be used as adjectives. If a
word modifies (makes changes to) a noun or pronoun, it is an
adjective, even if that word is usually associated with a different part
of speech. Sometimes the present participle (verb plus ing) form of a
verb becomes an adjective: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
• Spot the verb used as an adjective below in the Dracula extract:

I stood in silence where I was, for I did not know what to do. Of bell
or knocker there was no sign; through these frowning walls and dark
window openings it was not likely that my voice could penetrate.
The time I waited seemed endless, and I felt doubts and fears
crowding upon me. What sort of place had I come to, and among
what kind of people? What sort of grim adventure was it on which I
had embarked? Was this a customary incident in the life of a
solicitor’s clerk sent out to explain the purchase of a London estate
to a foreigner?
2 minutes-alone
 5 minutes-in
pairs
Practising using verbs as adjectives
How many of the verbs around the board can you use as
adjectives? Work with a partner and practise using them in creative
sentences.
frightening
frowning
rolling lit

trying exciting

Extension: Can you link your sentences together into a story?

Can you use the same words in your story as a verb, as well as
an adjective?
 Homework

Look up definitions for any

words that you didn’t
understand in the bingo
game.