Verb: The Difference Between Matter and Energy

Age
6-9.

Materials

 * Strips of paper
 * Black and red pens
 * Miniature environement
 * Black pyramid
 * Red sphere
 * Grammar symbols: noun, article, adjective, verb
 * Insets of geometry cabinet: circle, triangle, polygons

Presentation

 * 1) The directress writes the labels for some objects consisting of noun, article and adjective written in black.
 * 2) A few children read the labels and bring the objects.
 * 3) Other labels are written in red; these are simple commands, i.e. run, walk.
 * 4) The children read these silently an execute the commands.
 * 5) All of the labels are placed on the table: the environment labels with their objects and the verb commands alone.
 * 6) Directress says: "The objects are here, but where is run and walk? They have disapppeared. These are verbs. The verb is energy".
 * 7) Examples of energy in activity are given, recalling the generation of body heat through activity.
 * 8) "Like a coal or wood fire is energy, it gives off heat and light. Energy is very important to life. Verbs show energy".
 * 9) The pyramid is presented, and the child recalls that it represents the noun.
 * 10) The symbol chosen for the verb is a red sphere.
 * 11) Directress says; "The noun is very stable; it cannot move. The verb moves quite a bit and freely".
 * 12) "In the same way as the triangle represents the pyramid, a circle represents the sphere".
 * 13) The freedom of movement is shown with the metal insets.
 * 14) The greater the number of sides, the more freely it moves.

Purpose

 * To give the symbol and etymology of the verb.