Preschool - Grammar

Preschool Words That Show Action Worksheet

6 printable versions - On Level - About 4 minutes each

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Words That Show Action

Preschool - Grammar - On Level

Worksheet 1

  1. Which one does the action? Point.

    Read aloud: It flaps its wings and rises into the sky.

    A left-to-right row of 4 positions.A left-to-right sequence of pictures. cowduckrabbitfish

  2. Hear what happens, then point.

    Read aloud: It grows a little taller every single year.

    A left-to-right row of 4 positions.A left-to-right sequence of pictures. rocktreecuphat

  3. Which one does the action? Point.

    Read aloud: It carries children to school every morning.

    A left-to-right row of 4 positions.A left-to-right sequence of pictures. drumbusboatkite

  4. Hear what happens, then point.

    Read aloud: It floats up when you let go of the string.

    A left-to-right row of 4 positions.A left-to-right sequence of pictures. ballkitebookcup

  5. Which one does the action? Point.

    Read aloud: It swims all day and never leaves the water.

    A left-to-right row of 4 positions.A left-to-right sequence of pictures. catfishrabbitdog

  6. Hear what happens, then point.

    Read aloud: It rolls down the hill and does not stop.

    A left-to-right row of 4 positions.A left-to-right sequence of pictures. ballboottreebook
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About this worksheet

Action words are the easiest part of speech for a young child to feel, because a body can do them. What a preschooler cannot yet do is pick the action word out of a spoken sentence and say what job it is doing; that is analysis, and it belongs several years later. So this sheet keeps the verb and gives the child something honest to do with it. At the first level you say a single action and the child points to the picture that could really perform it: a rabbit hops, a cup does not. At the second level nothing is named at all. You describe what is happening and the child works backwards to what could be doing it, which is the same listening a story asks for. The third level joins two actions with AND, or asks which of four pictures cannot do the action, so a child who was matching one word to one picture has to check every option against every clue. Let your child act each verb out. A body that has hopped remembers what hopping means.

What your child will learn

  • Match a spoken action word to something that can perform it
  • Work out what is happening from a description with no names in it
  • Hold two actions in mind and find the one picture that fits both
  • Find the picture that cannot do an action the others can

Worked example

You say, “It swims AND it flies.” A fish only swims and a butterfly only flies, so neither one fits both. The duck does both, so the finger goes to the duck.

Common mistake

Answering after the first clue. On a two-part item a child often points as soon as one word matches, before hearing the second half.

Helpful hint

Say the action, then act it out together before anyone points.

Who or What Is It About?Words That Describe

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with words that show action?
Answering after the first clue. On a two-part item a child often points as soon as one word matches, before hearing the second half.
How can I help my child with words that show action?
Say the action, then act it out together before anyone points.
Are these preschool grammar worksheets free to print?
Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

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