Grammar may bring groans from first graders {and their teachers}! I, for one, love teaching grammar, but I also know that it’s not everyone’s favorite thing to teach. That’s why I have found these painless grammar ideas for first grade. Overall, these simple ways to teach grammar are fun for students and easy for you to prepare.
Everyday Examples
Help students understand the difference between regular nouns and proper nouns by using examples from their everyday lives. First, have them identify the different types of proper nouns by asking them to give examples of people, places, and things in their lives. Have them identify family members’ and friends’ names. Even famous people can make the proper noun list!
Next, places are also fantastic proper noun examples. Identify their city, state, and country. Talk about landmarks or special places in the area where they live. Let them practice with fill-in-the-blank sentences that use proper nouns. One example is, “I live in ___________ (state).” or “My brother’s name is ____________.”
We know how much students love to be the center of things so this idea may stick 🙂
Interactive Activities
Another way to learn grammar is with interactive activities! Hands-on, interactive activities help your first graders know all about parts of speech! These activities get your students moving and learning grammar without traditional writing. Here are a few of my favorite painless interactive grammar ideas for first grade.
Go on a Noun Hunt
First, pick a noun and have students look around and find things in the classroom that fit the definition of the noun you’ve chosen. For example, if you pick the noun, “crayon”, they must find a crayon in the classroom. Next, let your students come up with their own nouns to add to the hunt.
This is also a fun game to play virtually. Have students hunt their nouns from home on Zoom! Change it up and have students hunt using an adverb. Find a pencil quickly, for example. Finally, noun hunts are a fun grammar activity all students can enjoy!
Verb Charades
The next painless grammar idea for first grade is verb charades. Teach verbs by getting students to act out the definitions. First, give each student a card with the verb written on it (ex. run, jump, draw). Next, have them act out the verb without speaking. Then, have the other students guess the verb being acted out. Just like the noun hunt, you can add an adverb to make verb charades even more interesting. Jump high or draw sloppily!
Digital Parts of Speech Games
An activity that truly has NO prep is Beat the Clock: Parts of Speech. Your students simply pull out a whiteboard {or you can use the included recording sheet} An image pops up on the screen and your students determine its part of speech.
Related Reading: Top Parts of Speech Games
Story Starters
Story starters also help students practice with nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Generate a story starter with words that use nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Have students work together to complete the story. Think of the fun stories they can write together!
Want to snag this free set of Story Starters? Enter your info below!
Grammar Comics
Make grammar fun for your first graders by incorporating it into comic strips. First, make an original or use a pre-made template. Then, have students fill in the blanks with nouns and verbs. Of course, this is a great way to get creative while learning grammar!
These are just a few painless grammar ideas for first grade to get you started. With a bit of creativity, your learners will be excited to learn grammar. You’ll also have an easy time prepping these simple grammar activities. Overall, making grammar fun and engaging will help your first graders master their grammar skills without feeling overwhelmed.
