This document describes a lesson where students color pictures to learn frequency adverbs. The teacher was surprised to see older male students engaged in coloring. After coloring, students write 3-5 sentences using frequency adverbs to describe their picture. Examples of verb lists are provided to help slower students. Students then share their work by critiquing each other's sentences and pictures. While the goal was to teach frequency adverbs, the teacher found it also assessed other grammar areas.

1. Color it!
By Michael M. Magbanua
Who says that coloring only appeals to kids? Not at all. Believe it or not, big guys
in my class enjoyed doing it while trying to master their grammar lesson on adverbs
of frequency. I was even surprised to see them working so peacefully that it’s as if
they’ve been deprived from their art sessions years back. Anyhow, this creative task
was inspired by my students who are mostly artistically-inclined. More obviously, this coloring activity
was so popular to boys and girls alike whom I usually catch doodling, scribbling, sketching on their
notebooks, worksheets, and worse is—vandalizing over their armchair for a reason that only their
conscience knows. Howard Gardner’s claim about multiple intelligences (artistic) clearly explains this
integrative method of teaching adverbs of frequency and its usage through coloring.
Target Learners : Level 1
Allotted time : about 15-20 minutes
Materials : coloring templates; crayons and markers; pen; verb list
Procedures :
1. Have them seated on small group circles—ideally of 4-5 groups. This promotes collaborative
learning among groupmates.
2. Distribute the sheets to individual student. (Find more printable coloring templates at
www.coloring.ws/t_template.asp).
3. Have them color their own coloring template. Set your time.
4. Once coloring has finished, have them write 3-5 sentences about their masterpiece focusing on
using frequency adverbs with action verbs.
5. One helpful option (for slower students) is to write on the board a list of probable action verb
related to each template. See a sample verb list below:
Doctor : help; take care; treats; give advice…
Basketball : play; like; dislike; enjoy…
Car : drive; go; travel; visit…
Family : talk; love; like; laugh; sit…
6. Have them appreciate each other’s piece of art or correcting some mistakes in sentences.
7. Once peer-critiqued, collect the finished product.
POST ACTIVITY : In class, allow a 1-minute individual talk about his/her own masterpiece.
COMMENTS : While the teacher specifically aimed to focus solely to frequency adverbs, it is
interesting to note that student’s weakness about demonstrative, personal pronouns, and S-V
agreement usage also surfaced. Consequently, the activity turned to be an effective general
grammar assessment tool as well.
Colorfully done!

2. Teaching
frequency
adverbs
through
arts