Basic Nouns & Verbs
Use frequently occurring nouns (people, places, things) and verbs (action words) appropriately in speech and writing
Share and support
Teaching Table · Reviewed guide
Set out your lesson
“Nouns name people, places, or things. Verbs tell actions. In “The dog runs,” dog is the noun and runs is the verb.”
Bring to the table
- Ready picture or toy set: dog, ball, and a person figure
- Ready sentence cards: The dog runs. The girl plays. Birds fly.
Full guide and materials
- Ready picture or toy set: dog, ball, and a person figure
- Ready sentence cards: The dog runs. The girl plays. Birds fly.
- Step 1. Show the dog toy/picture and name it as a naming word (noun).
- Step 2. Act out run and call run a doing word (verb).
- Step 3. Read The dog runs. Have your child point to the noun and the verb.
- Step 4. Repeat with The girl plays and Birds fly, then have your child say one new sentence with a noun and a verb.
- Quick check. Success means your child identifies the noun and verb in a simple sentence such as “A cat jumps,” and produces one spoken sentence with both.
Worked example. In “The girl plays,” girl is the noun and plays is the verb.
Optional challenge. Change the noun in “The boy eats” to girl and notice the sentence still needs an action verb.
What to notice. Save a parent note quoting the sentence labeled and the child’s own noun-verb sentence.
Compare teaching approaches
Teaching approaches
Gakuva’s recommended starting approach is selected. You can still compare every option.
1 approach
Nouns name people, places, or things. Verbs tell actions. In “The dog runs,” dog is the noun and runs is the verb.
Spend about 10 minutes sorting naming words and action words in three ready sentences.
Family records and proof options
Keep a record of your learning
Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.
Learning resources
Reviewed external links that reinforce this concept. They do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
Vocabulary Ninja · Practice link — not the full lesson
Magic Verbs
Interactive verb practice for choosing lively verbs. Pair with adult prompts to label nouns in the same sentences for the nouns side of this concept.
Free · no login · no ads observed
Review and open practice
Save a screenshot of verb choices and a parent note listing two nouns and two verbs the learner identified.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Open practice (new tab)Source, access and review notes
Interactive verb practice for choosing lively verbs. Pair with adult prompts to label nouns in the same sentences for the nouns side of this concept.
Save a screenshot of verb choices and a parent note listing two nouns and two verbs the learner identified.
Free · no login · no ads observed
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Use common nouns accurately in sentences (e.g. 'dog', 'school', 'book')
- Use action verbs appropriately (e.g. 'run', 'eat', 'play')
- Identify nouns and verbs in simple sentences when prompted
“When your child talks or writes about everyday things — like "the dog runs" or "Mum cooks dinner" — do they use the right kind of words for things (nouns) and actions (verbs) without mixing them up?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Language
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- Grammar & Punctuation
- Age range
- Ages 5–6
Standards