The Detective Adjective Game

Material 

A box containing 63 triangles. There are 21 red triangles, 21 orange triangles, and 21 green triangles. They are of seven different kinds: 

  1. equilateral triangles 
  2. acute angled isosceles triangles
  3. obtuse angled isosceles triangles
  4. right angled isosceles triangles
  5. acute angled scalene triangles
  6. right angled scalene triangles
  7. obtuse angled scalene triangles 

Direct aim 

To show the child the detective power of the adjective in singling out one object from a group. 

Indirect aim 

Reading practice. 

Age of interest 

From approximately five years. 

Teacher’s presentation 

  1. Take out all the triangles and put them on the table.
  2. Tell the child that you are going to write down what you want.
  3. Write down ‘the triangle’ and the child will give you a triangle.
  4. Say, ‘Yes, that is a triangle, but it is not the triangle that I wanted!’
  5. Take the slip of paper, and tear the article from the noun and write in another colour an adjective describing the size of the triangle.
  6. When the child gives you a triangle of the given size, agree that this is the right size, but say that this is not the triangle that you wanted!
  7. Tell the child that he may clear away all the triangles that are not of the size asked for, consequently narrowing down the field.
  8. Write down an adjective describing the colour.
  9. When the child gives you a triangle that is the right colour and size, say that that is still not the one that you wanted, and clear away all the triangles that are of the wrong colour.
  10. Go through the same process, adding an adjective to describe the kind of triangle that you wanted, and finally the angle.
  11. Then say to the child, ‘Yes, that is the one I wanted all the time! Well done!’ 

E.g. The small, red, right angled, isosceles triangle. 

Exercises 

  1. As in presentation.
  2. The child may be given slips with the names of the triangles on them which he can match up with the triangles.
  3. The child may use the blue triangle as symbol for the adjectives. 
Boxes of Slips with the triangle Game          
The  triangle Green Isosceles right angled small
    white scalene acute angled medium
    yellow   obtuse angled large