Read & Practice Mini Books Parts of Speech

Read & Practice Mini-Books
10 Interactive Mini-Books That Help Students

Learn and Really Understand the Parts of Speech—
Independently!
Synonyms,
Antonyms,
B Y Prefixes
K A R E N &K E L L A H E R
Suffixes, Words With
Multiple Meanings,
and More!
NEW YORK • TORONTO • LONDON • AUCKLAND • SYDNEY

MEXICO CITY • NEW DELHI • HONG KONG • BUENOS AIRES
Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
T o Anna, Dominique, Jessica, and Laine—
the late-night MadLib gang
Scholastic Inc. grants teachers permission to photocopy the reproducible pages in this book for classroom use. No other
part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For
information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999.
Edited and produced by Immacula A. Rhodes

Cover design by Jason Robinson
Interior illustrations by Mike Moran
Interior design by Kathy Massaro
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-45856-6
ISBN-10: 0-439-45856-0
Text copyright © 2009 by Karen Kellaher

Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Scholastic Inc.
Published by Scholastic Inc.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the U.S.A.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 40 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09
Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................. 4
How to Assemble the Mini-Books .................................................................. 4
Read & Practice Mini-Books
The List ( COMMON AND PROPER NOUNS ) ................................................ 5
The Elves and the Toymaker ( PLURAL NOUNS ) .................................... 11
Verbman Saves the Day! ( VERBS ) ...................................................... 17
Now and Then ( PAST- TENSE VERBS ) ...................................................... 23
Lost Dog ( ADJECTIVES ) ........................................................................ 29
The Best Time ( COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES ) .................... 35
Addie’s Adverbs ( ADVERBS ) ................................................................ 41
Pronoun Power ( PRONOUNS ) .............................................................. 47
Up, Down, All Around ( PREPOSITIONS ) ................................................ 53
The Talent Show ( PARTS OF SPEECH REVIEW ) .......................................... 59
Answers .................................................................................................. 63
I N T RO D U C T I O N
Read & Practice Mini-Books:

About the Series
I f you’re like many teachers, you may have trouble mustering enthusiasm and confidence when
it’s time to teach about subject-predicate agreement, tricky homophones, or plural possessives.
One reason is that many of today’s educators grew up during the 1970s and ’80s, when schools
began backing away from the direct instruction of standard English conventions. At the time,
many educators felt that grammar, spelling, and punctuation could be adequately addressed
during the editing process.
It didn’t always work. Nearly two decades later, college professors noted that an alarming
number of incoming students could not properly punctuate a paragraph or distinguish between
an adjective and adverb. Universities began pushing for more direct and rigorous teaching of
English fundamentals.
Today, your mandate as a language-arts teacher is clear. According to national and state
standards, our second-, third-, and fourth-graders must demonstrate a sound understanding of
sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. They must also apply this
understanding to their own writing.
This return to grammar and spelling need not mean boring worksheets, however. In Read &
Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech, we offer exciting activities that will motivate your class to
become better readers and writers. Your students will have a blast assembling the books, reading
them together, and tackling the interactive practice pages that address common and proper
nouns, pronouns, verb tenses, adjectives, adverbs, and more. The Read & Practice Mini-Books
series includes three additional books: Vocabulary, Spelling, and Grammar & Punctuation.
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How to Assemble the Mini-Books

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Teacher Preparation: Page 2

Title Page
Carefully remove the perforated pages
1
from the book.
Make double-sided copies of the mini-book

2 1
pages on standard 8 __2 - by 11-inch paper.
Student Assembly:
Title Page
3 Fold each page in half along the solid line.
Place the pages in numerical order and

4
staple along the spine.
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Page 5 • The List • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
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Show What You Know! } }
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Look at the common noun phrase that is underlined in

each sentence. Think of a proper noun to replace it.
Write the proper noun on the line.
1. Pam likes to spend time with her friend.
________________________________________________
2. I always wanted to visit that state. _________________
3. An author wrote the award-winning book.
________________________________________________
4. The school is not far from here.
________________________________________________
5. He was waiting outside the office of the principal.
________________________________________________
6. We are missing some pieces to the game.
________________________________________________
7. Is the dog eating his dinner? _______________________
8. My cousin will visit on that day. ____________________ Common and Proper Nouns
Go Further: Write your own list of things to do today.

Use at least five proper nouns. Be sure to use a capital
letter to start each one!
Name
11
}
} }
At home, Mr. Burns proudly handed the list
back to his wife. “Now, I’m ready for my
steak,” he announced.
You probably know that a noun is a
Mrs. Burns looked at her husband in
person, place, or thing. But did you
confusion. She handed him a bowl of salad.
know that there are two kinds of nouns?
“You wanted steak?” she asked. “Why
didn’t you say so in the first place?”
A common noun is any person, place,
or thing. For example, street, country,
and doctor are all common nouns.
A proper noun is a specific person,
place, or thing. It begins with a capital
letter. Oak Street, America, and Doctor
Davis are all proper nouns.
Is it really important to remember
the difference? You bet! Read the story
to find out why.
} }
}
1 10
The List
The Burns family lived in a common old

house in a common old town. Only one thing
was uncommon about the Burnses. They were
very scatterbrained.
One day, Mrs. Burns asked her husband to
run some errands. She gave him a list. “It
won’t take long, dear,” she told Mr. Burns.
“When you return, I’ll make you a nice dinner.”
Mr. Burns visited Aunt Gertrude. Finally, it

was time to go home. He had crossed off
every item on the list! Mr. Burns thought about
the steak dinner waiting for him at home. His
mouth watered.
9 2
Mr. Burns paid for the groceries and
checked the list again. It said, “Visit that lady.”
“Not again,” groaned Mr. Burns. He dialed
home.
“What lady are you talking about?” he
asked his wife.
“Aunt Gertrude, dear,” Mrs. Burns replied.
“Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
Mr. Burns grumbled.
Mr. Burns thought about a big, juicy steak.
He decided to get the errands done as
quickly as possible.
There was just one problem. Mrs. Burns
had used only common nouns on her list.
There was not a single proper noun. Mr. Circle the common noun that was on the list.
Burns was in trouble. Underline the proper noun that Mrs. Burns
meant to write.
3 8
Mr. Burns looked at the As Mr. Burns headed to his car, he read the
next item on the list. “Buy first item on the list.
juice,” it said. “Go to the store,” it said.
Mr. Burns found the juice “That’s easy,” Mr. Burns thought. But then
section. There were dozens he stopped in his tracks. “Which store should I
of flavors! So Mr. Burns go to?” he called
called home again. “What to his wife, who
kind of juice do you want?” was standing in
he asked. the doorway.
“Buy Berryade, dear,” “Go to the
Mrs. Burns told him. ShopWell, dear,”
“Why didn’t you say so Mrs. Burns called
in the first place?” back.
Mr. Burns grumbled. “Why didn’t
you say so in the
first place?” Mr.
Burns grumbled.
Circle the common noun that was on the list.

Underline the proper noun that Mrs. Burns Circle the common noun that was on the list.
meant to write. Underline the proper noun that Mrs. Burns
meant to write.
7 4
At the ShopWell, Mr. Burns got a cart and Mr. Burns went to the
looked at the list again. It listed the groceries cereal section. He saw
the Burnses needed at home. rows and rows of boxes.
“Buy cereal,” Mr. Burns read. There were Fruitios and
Toast-ee-ums, Corn Duds,
and Corn Duds With
Honey.
Mr. Burns did not want
to buy the wrong kind of
cereal. He called home
on his cell phone. “What
kind of cereal do you
want?” he asked his wife.
“Buy Yummios, dear,” Mrs. Burns told him.
“Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
Mr. Burns grumbled.
Circle the common noun that was on the list.
Underline the proper noun that Mrs. Burns
meant to write.
5 6
Page 11 • The Elves and the Toymaker • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
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If the underlined plural noun is spelled correctly, draw

a smiley face on the line. If not, cross out the word.
Then write the correct spelling on the line.
1. The second-grade class is making puppets.
_______________________________________
2. It is Dan’s turn to wash the dishs. __________________
3. There are two boxes on the teacher’s desk.
_______________________________________
4. I have saved nearly 200 pennys. ___________________
5. In autumn, the leafs change colors. ________________
6. Lindsay is four feet tall. ___________________________
7. Our dog just had a litter of puppies. _______________
8. Mrs. Moore asked us to go to our deskes.
__________________________________________
Go Further: Read an article in a magazine or

Plural Nouns
newspaper. Circle all of the plural nouns you find. Then
copy them onto a sheet of paper. Which rules do the
nouns follow?
Name
11
Once upon a time, a poor toymaker lived in The poor toymaker was not so poor
a kingdom far away. The toymaker made anymore. That night, he left a bar of gold on
beautiful toys in his workshop. He made sure his bench to thank the elves for their help.
that each toy was just right. The next morning, the toymaker woke up to
One day, the toymaker received a letter a big surprise. The elves had not taken the bar
from the king. “I have seven wonderful, of gold. Instead, they had multiplied it. The
perfect daughters,” the letter said. “Please workroom was filled with gold! The happy
make seven wonderful, perfect dolls. Deliver toymaker shared his riches with all the men,
them to the palace tomorrow morning, and women, and children of the kingdom.
you will receive a
}
}
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Rule
} }
bar of gold.” }
The toymaker Some nouns form unusual plurals. They
began working do not follow the rules. For example,
right away. But by the plural of man is men, the plural of
midnight, he had woman is women, and the plural of
finished only one child is children.
doll! It was
perfect, with shiny Can you think of other examples? Write them
black hair and on the lines.
bright brown eyes.
1 10
The next day, the king asked for toy dishes The toymaker knew he had to make six
for his daughters. He wanted a plate, fork, and more dolls. But he could not stay awake
knife for each princess. With the help of the another minute. He fell fast asleep.
elves, the toymaker made seven tiny toy plates, That night, an elf peeked into the
seven tiny toy forks, and seven tiny toy knives. toymaker’s shop. When he saw what was
Then he collected a fourth bar of gold. happening, the elf called his friends. Soon
} a band of elves appeared. They quickly made
} } }
}
}
Rule the six dolls. They put the dolls on the
If a noun ends in –f or –lf, you usually toymaker’s bench and left.
change the f to a v and add –es to make }
} } }
the word plural. For example, the plural }
}
Rule
of elf is elves.
To make most nouns plural, add an –s
If a noun ends in –fe, you usually change to the end of the word. For example,
the f to a v and add –s. For example, the plural of doll is dolls.
the plural of knife is knives.
Can you think of other examples? Write them

on the lines.
on the lines.
9 2
By this time, the toymaker was beginning to
suspect what was happening. That night, he
made one stuffed bunny and pretended to fall
asleep. He watched as the elves appeared and
created six more beautiful bunnies. The next
day, he delivered the bunnies to the palace
and got his third bar of gold.
}
}
}
Rule
} }
}
If a noun ends in a consonant followed
by –y, drop the –y and add –ies to make
the word plural. For example, the plural
of bunny is bunnies.
In the morning, a ray of sunlight woke the Can you think of other examples? Write them
toymaker. “Oh, no!” he exclaimed. “I did not on the lines.
finish the dolls. Now the king will be angry, and
I will not receive the gold.”
Then the toymaker spotted the finished dolls.
He was puzzled, but pleased. He delivered the
dolls to the palace and collected his gold.
3 8
The king’s daughters were happy with their

new dolls. Later that day, the king sent another
letter to the toymaker. “Thank you for the
wonderful, perfect dolls,” the message said.
“Now you must make seven wonderful, perfect
dresses for the dolls. Bring them to the palace
tomorrow morning, and you will receive
another bar of gold.”
The toymaker awoke at dawn. He soon saw

the beautiful doll dresses on the bench. “Who
could have done this?” he wondered. He
gathered the dresses and took them to the
palace. The king gave him another bar of gold.
That afternoon, the toymaker received
another message. This time, the king wanted
seven soft, stuffed bunnies for his daughters.
Once again, the toymaker was to deliver the
toys to the palace in exchange for a bar of gold.
7 4
The toymaker got to work on the first doll That night, the helpful elves returned to
dress. He paid attention to every detail. The tiny the toymaker’s shop. They quickly made the
buttons were just right. The lace collar was just rest of the dresses and left them on the
right. The velvety skirt was just right. But once toymaker’s bench.
again, the toymaker grew tired. By midnight, he
had finished just one dress. But he could no
longer keep his eyes open. He fell asleep. }
}
}
Rule
} }
}
If a noun ends in –s, –ch, –sh, –x, or –z,
add –es to the end of the word to make
it plural. For example, the plural of
dress is dresses.
on the lines.
5 6
Page 17 • Verbman Saves the Day! • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
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Write an action verb on the line to complete each

sentence.
1. Let’s _______________________ the apple tree near the

Saves
driveway. - the Day! -
2. Children _____________________ in the park every day.
3. I always _______________________ my lunch.
4. Cars _______________________ down the street.
5. Our puppy _______________________ his toys.
6. The class loves to skip and ____________________ .
7. Crickets chirp, and bees _______________________ .
8. In art class, we paint and _____________________ .
Go Further: Linking verbs do not show action.

Instead, they show a state of being. These verbs link
the subject of a sentence to other words in the
sentence. Some examples of linking verbs are:
am, is, are, was, were, and seems. Write a sentence
using a linking verb.
A Story About Action Verbs
Name
11
}
“Couch Potato has been here,” Verbman
} }
cried. He got to work instantly. He spread
some verbs on the sand, and the beach sprang
A verb is a word that shows action or into action. Swimmers swam. Fishermen fished.
a state of being. Seagulls flew overhead.
The words taste, fly, and grow are “Thank you, Verbman!” called the people
examples of action verbs. on the beach.
Without action verbs, our lives—and By this time, Verbman was sure that the lazy
our sentences—would be very boring! Couch Potato had stopped for the day. He
knew that Couch Potato never missed his
afternoon nap. So Verbman returned to
Superhero Headquarters to collect verbs for
} }
} the next exciting day in Action City!
}
} } Be a Grammar Superhero! } } }
Circle two action verbs on this page.
1 10
Verbman Saves the Day!
It was a beautiful, sunny day in Action City.

People shopped. Children played. Dogs
barked. Cars zoomed.
Verbman watched over the city from
Superhero Headquarters. He suspected that
things would not stay calm for long. He knew
that his enemy, Couch Potato, would soon rear
his ugly head. Couch Potato was famous for his
mean tricks. He used his super powers to
freeze people and animals in their places. He
took the action out of Action City.
Verbman was growing weary. But his work

for the day was not over! As he flew above
Action City, he noticed something strange on
the beach. Things were quiet—too quiet. No
one moved a muscle. No one made a sound.
9 2
Verbman had been battling Couch Potato
for many years. He knew just how to fight
back. Whenever Couch Potato struck, Verbman
came to the rescue. He would throw a few
good action verbs onto the scene. Verbman’s
verbs always put action and excitement back
in the picture.
Verbman spent the morning pacing back
and forth. Then it happened. He received a
report that Couch Potato had struck! The
villain had frozen a ballpark where a Little
League game was being played. The coaches
and players were frozen in place. Verbman’s fast action broke the spell. The
office workers returned to normal. They talked
on their phones. They typed on their computers.
They wrote their reports.
“Thank you, Verbman!” the office workers
exclaimed.
}
3 8
Verbman leaped into action. He raced to

the ballpark and used his super powers to
undo Couch Potato’s trickery. He tossed down
one verb, then another, and another. Before
long, the ballpark was back to normal. Pitchers
pitched. Batters swung. Players ran the bases.
“Thank you, Verbman!” the grateful coaches
and players said.
Just a few minutes later, Verbman learned

that Couch Potato had struck once again! He
had frozen an entire office building! }
}
}
Verbman hurried to the scene. He threw a
} Be a Grammar Superhero! } }
handful of verbs inside the building. Circle two action verbs on this page.
7 4
“This is a job for Verbman!” the superhero
called out. He rushed to the library and
worked his magic. He sprinkled dozens of verbs
around the library. Soon, the place buzzed
with activity once again. Students studied.
Readers read. Children looked for books.
“Thank you, Verbman!” the people at the
library shouted.
On his way back to headquarters, Verbman
spotted a second emergency. Couch Potato
had frozen a public library! The librarians and
}
visitors stood perfectly still. They could not
move or speak!
5 6
Page 23 • Now and Then • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
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Rewrite each sentence in the past tense.

Hint: The verbs in the last two sentences are irregular.
1. We cross the street. ______________________________
2. I wait for the bus. ________________________________
3. I play at recess. __________________________________
4. Ships sail by. _____________________________________
5. The stores open early. ____________________________
6. I pick up the papers. _____________________________
7. We grow flowers. _________________________________
8. I ride my bike. ____________________________________
Go Further: Write a paragraph that tells how you

Past-Tense Verbs
got ready for school this morning. Use at least three
past-tense verbs.
Name
11
Clarice did research to learn what Pilgrim
The tense of a verb tells when an action kids ate. She wrote:
takes place. The present tense tells about an
action that is taking place right now. The past Pilgrim kids ____________________ only
tense tells about an action that has already (eat)
taken place. what their families grew or hunted. They
}
}
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Tense Tips
} }
}
______________________ on deer, duck, fish,
(dine)
To form the past
Present Past
tense of many and corn. They ______________________ on rye
verbs, simply add dance danced (snack)
–d or –ed. These bake baked
verbs are called bread. It was baked from flour made from
call called
regular. Some
examples are: color colored
English seeds. Pilgrim kids _________________
(drink)
goat milk and water.
Other verbs are
irregular. That Present Past Help Clarice fill in the blanks in her report! Put
means they form the each verb in the past tense. Write it on the line.
sleep slept
past tense in unusual
is was
ways. It is helpful to }
} }
Hint
} }
memorize irregular make made }
verbs. Some know knew The verbs “eat” and “drink”
examples are: are both irregular.
1 10
Next, Clarice decided to write about food. Now and Then

She wrote:
One day, Mr. Young asked all the third-
Kids today eat many different foods. We graders to write reports on the Pilgrims.
dine on pizza, pasta, meat, and fresh Clarice wanted to write about Pilgrim kids. She
vegetables. We snack on fruit and cookies. wondered whether Pilgrim kids were like her
Kids today often drink cows’ milk, juice, and her classmates. What did they wear? What
and water. did they eat? What did they do? Clarice
decided to find out.
9 2
Clarice did research to learn what Pilgrim
First, Clarice wrote about how kids have
girls and boys wore. She wrote:
fun. She started by writing about herself and
her friends:
Pilgrim girls usually ______________________
(wear)
Kids today enjoy tag, soccer, and other
outdoor games. We climb on jungle gyms. long skirts and slips called petticoats. They
Indoors, we play with toys and computer
games. sometimes ______________________ on seven
(pull)
layers of skirts and aprons! Pilgrim boys
______________________ in short pants called
(dress)
breeches and jackets called doublets. They
______________________ their heads in felt hats.
(cover)
Help Clarice fill in the blanks in her report! Put
each verb in the past tense. Write it on the line.
}
}
}
Hint
} }
}
The verb “wear” is irregular.
3 8
Next, Clarice wrote about clothing. She wrote: Clarice did research to learn how Pilgrim
kids had fun. She wrote:
Girls today usually wear comfortable
clothes. For example, we pull on jeans and
Pilgrim kids ______________________ races,
sweaters for school and skirts or dresses for
(enjoy)
special occasions. Boys often dress in blue
jeans, too. They sometimes cover their heads tug-of-war, and other outdoor games. They
in baseball caps.
______________________ trees. Indoors, they

(climb)
______________________ with homemade dolls

(play)
and other toys.

}
} } }
}
}
Hint
All of the missing verbs on this page

are regular.
7 4
Next, Clarice wrote about chores. She Clarice did research to learn what kinds of
started by writing about kids today: chores Pilgrim kids had. She wrote:
Kids today often wash the dishes and
clean our rooms. We go to the food store Pilgrim kids ______________________ the
(wash)
with our parents and help put the
groceries away.
dishes and ______________________ their
(clean)
homes. They ______________________ hunting
(go)
with their parents and _____________________
(help)
prepare meals.
}
}
}
Hint
} }
}
The verb “go” is irregular.
5 6
Page 29 • Lost Dog • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
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Write an adjective in each blank to complete the

sentence. Use your imagination!
1. We saw a ___________________ rainbow on Monday.

A Story About Adjectives
2. Lunch was ______________________________________ .
3. That book is ____________________________________ .
4. A ______________________ car went down the street.
5. Julia likes ________________________________ snacks.
6. My backpack is _________________________________ .
7. The ____________________ cat slept by the window.
8. The music is very ________________________________ .
Go Further: Write the letters of your first name.

Write an adjective that begins with each letter to
describe yourself.
Name
11
}
} }
Adjectives are words that
describe people, places, and
things. For example, the words
happy, slippery, and yellow are all
adjectives. See how many
adjectives you can find in this
story about a boy and his dog!
} }
}
Jack and his parents went to the park to
get Duffy. As soon as he saw him, Jack gave
his dog a little treat and a big hug. Then he
brought Duffy home.
Later, Jack and his dad went out to collect
the posters and put them in the recycling bin.
Jack knew that he would always remember
that scary weekend. He would never forget
how helpful adjectives could be!
1 10
The man did not get a chance to say

anything else. Just then, the dog began
barking near the phone. He was very loud!
Jack smiled. He would know that bark
anywhere. It had to be Duffy!
Lost Dog
Jack and his dog, Duffy, were very close.
Jack took Duffy for walks, fed him every day,
and taught him amazing tricks.
One day, an awful thing happened. Duffy
saw another dog in the park and darted off to
bark hello. Jack tried to catch up to Duffy, but
he couldn’t. Soon he lost sight of his dog.
Duffy was gone!
9 2
At home, Jack’s mom and dad suggested
that he make “a lost dog” poster with the
family’s phone number. If anyone found Duffy,
they would know where to call.
Jack got to work. He hung his posters all
over town. This is what the posters said:
The next morning, the phone rang while Jack
and his parents were eating breakfast. It was
the man who mowed the grass in Fredon Park.
“I think I might have your dog, Duffy, here,”
the man said. “I read your poster, and this little
guy looks just like the dog you described. He’s
white with tan spots and he has pointy ears, a
skinny tail, and short hair. He has a purple
collar and light brown eyes. And he sure is
playful and friendly.”
3 8
Jack thought about the phone call. He was

getting worried about Duffy. He decided that
his posters could use even more adjectives. He
collected all of the old posters and made new
ones. This time, the posters said:
Jack’s dad went out in the car to look for

Duffy, while Jack and his mom waited by the
phone. Finally someone called. “I found a lost
dog downtown,” the woman said. “He must
be yours.”
Jack and his mom rushed to meet the
woman at the park. She had a cute dog at her
side. The dog was black and white with a bushy
tail. It was definitely not Duffy.
“I’m sorry,” the woman told Jack. “I hope
you find your dog soon. Maybe it would help if
you added some adjectives to your poster. Then
everyone will know what your dog looks like.”
7 4
Jack went home and made new posters.
This time, he took the woman’s advice and
added some adjectives. This is what the new
posters said:
Jack and his parents hung the new posters.
Then they waited for news. That night, the
telephone rang. It was a nice man who believed
he had seen Duffy near the grocery store.
“It must be your dog,” the man said. “He is
white with tan spots. And he has floppy ears
and a long, bushy tail.”
“That’s not Duffy, then,” Jack sighed. “Duffy
has pointy ears and a short, skinny tail. Thanks,
anyway.”
5 6
Page 35 • The Best Time • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
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}
Read each group of adjectives. Fill in the missing word.
1. kind, kinder, __________________________________
2. hard, ________________________________ , hardest
3. ____________________________ , happier, happiest
4. crowded, _____________________ , most crowded
5. cool, cooler, __________________________________
6. ___________________________ , tougher, toughest
7. slow, slower, __________________________________

}
The Best
8. bashful, more bashful, ________________________
}
} Time }
Go Further: Most adjectives simply add –er or –est
or use the words more or most to compare two or
more things. But a few adjectives change their Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
spellings completely. One example is good, better,
best. Use these three adjectives in a short paragraph.
Name
11
}
} }
Nate Newshound was a new reporter for Some adjectives helped Nate describe a
the Daily Scoop newspaper. On his first day of single thing. Did you find these adjectives
work, he received a big assignment. A fair was in the story?
coming to town, and Nate’s editor asked him
fast delicious heavy
to write about it. Nate’s job was to report on
funny tricky
the best and most exciting things at the fair.
Nate could hardly wait.
} Other adjectives helped Nate compare
}
two things. These adjectives ended in the
}
letters –er or used the word more. Did you
find these adjectives in the story?
Adjectives can be used to compare
two or more people, places, and faster more delicious heavier
things. Some examples are:
funnier trickier
better best
faster fastest
Still other adjectives helped Nate
compare three or more things. These
} adjectives ended in the letters –est or used
}
} the word most. Did you find these
adjectives in the story?
Pretend to be a reporter. See how many of these
kinds of adjectives you can find in the story! fastest most delicious heaviest
funniest trickiest
} }
1 10 }
When Nate arrived at the fair, he saw the

rides right away. He decided to check them
out. First, he tried the bumper cars. The
bumper cars were fast, and Nate enjoyed
himself quite a bit. Then Nate took a spin on
the teacups. The teacups were even faster than
the bumper cars! Finally, Nate rode the
Superloop roller coaster. It was the fastest ride
of all! Nate decided to write about it in his
news report.
Back in the newsroom, Nate began to write.

He wrote about the fastest ride, the funniest
clown, the most delicious food, the trickiest
game, and the heaviest pumpkin.
He wrote about the thousands of people he
had seen at the fair. “Everyone seemed to
have a good time,” Nate wrote. “But I think I
had the best time of all.”
9 2
Nate took a close look at the pumpkins. The
first one he saw was rather big. A sign said it
weighed 54 pounds. “That’s heavy!” he
exclaimed.
A sign next to the second pumpkin said it
weighed 68 pounds. “That’s even heavier!”
Nate said.
A sign next to the third pumpkin said it
weighed 92 pounds. “Oh my!” exclaimed Nate.
“That’s the heaviest pumpkin of all. And I see
that it has won the blue ribbon.” Nate decided
to write about the
prize-winning pumpkin
Nate was a little dizzy from all those rides,
in his news report.
so he sat down on a bench. Soon some clowns
wandered by. The first clown had a big red
nose and some balloons shaped like animals.
He was funny! The second clown was juggling
three bowling pins. She was even funnier than
the first one. But the last clown was the
funniest of all. He had enormous sneakers and
frizzy green hair. Nate decided to write about
him in his news report.
3 8
Nate knew that he had to get back to the

newsroom. It was almost time to turn in his
report on the fair. But he decided to make one
last stop. In a giant tent, farmers from all over
the county were showing off their best crops.
There were giant pumpkins and plump
strawberries and tomatoes. Some of the fruits
and vegetables had won ribbons.
By now, Nate was no longer dizzy. In fact,

he was feeling hungry, so he decided to
sample some of the food at the fair. First Nate
ordered a hot dog with mustard. It was
delicious! Then he gulped down a giant
container of popcorn. It was more delicious
than the hot dog. For dessert, Nate ate a
chocolate ice cream cone. It was the most
delicious treat of all. Nate decided to write
about it in his news report.
7 4
Next, Nate tried his luck at some of the
games. The ring toss looked simple enough, so
Nate started with that one. He plunked down a
dollar and picked up three rings. One by one,
Nate tossed the rings toward the empty bottles.
But he could not get one to land on top of a
bottle. “This game is tricky,” thought Nate.
Then Nate tried the basketball game. To win
a prize, he had to shoot the ball through the
hoop. He tried six times but could not do it.
“This game is even trickier than the ring toss,”
thought Nate.
The last game Nate tried was darts. The
goal of the game was to throw a dart at a
balloon. If you popped the balloon, you won a
prize. Nate threw five darts, but not one of
them popped a balloon. Nate shook his head.
“This game is the trickiest one of all,” he said
to himself. He decided to write about it in his
news report.
5 6
Page 41 • Addie’s Adverbs • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
}
} }
}
Find the adverb in the box that best completes each

sentence. Write that adverb on the line.
quietly neatly slowly snugly

happily early loudly immediately
1. If you paint ______________ , you will make fewer

mistakes.
2. A truck rumbled down the street _______________ .
3. The students read ____________ for a few minutes.
4. School closed _____________ because of the storm.
5. Call for help ___________________ if you spot a fire.
6. The circus clown grinned _______________________ .
7. Sarah folded her clothes _______________________ .
8. The campers slept _______________ inside the tent.
Go Further: Find three examples of adverbs in a Adverbs

newspaper or magazine. Cut them out or write them
down to share with the class.
Name
11
} }
} } } }
In Addie’s story, all of the circled
Adverbs are words that tell about
adverbs end in the letters –ly. But some
verbs. They often end in the letters –ly.
adverbs do not. Here are some examples:
For example, a person might stroll slowly,
sleep soundly, or smile sweetly. The words
He dug deep.
slowly, soundly, and sweetly are all
She turned back.
adverbs. They tell how the action of the
I jumped high.
verb took place.
You swung hard.
Other adverbs, such as now and here,
tell when or where the action took place.
In Addie’s story, all of the circled
adverbs answer the question “How?”
} }
} But other adverbs answer the questions
“Where?” and “When?” Here are some
examples:
Please stop here.
I never eat sweets.
} }
}
1 10
On Saturday, it was finally time for the big Addie’s Adverbs

surprise. Addie’s parents woke her early and
packed a bag full of towels, treats, and On Sunday, Addie’s
sunscreen. They were going to the beach! parents told her that she
Addie had a fantastic time. She jumped would get a surprise if she
happily in the waves and rested lazily in the did her chores perfectly all
warm sun. At lunchtime, she ate hungrily. week long. Addie was thrilled!
“How did you enjoy your surprise?” Addie’s First, Addie’s parents
parents asked her at the end of the day. asked her to set the
“I enjoyed it tremendously!” Addie replied. dinner table. They wanted it to look
just right when Addie’s aunt and uncle arrived
for dinner. Addie polished forks and spoons
and folded napkins. She put every plate in its
place.
Soon, Addie’s mother called to her. “Did
you set the table?”
“Yes!” Addie replied.
“Did you set it neatly?” her mother asked.
“Yes, mama,” Addie replied.
“Very well then,” her mother said.
Which adverb tells how Addie set the table?

Circle it.
9 2
On Monday, Addie’s parents asked her to do On Friday, Addie’s dog, Simon, greeted her
her homework right after school. Addie wanted to at the door when she got home from school.
play computer games, but she was looking He looked dirty and messy. Addie knew that
forward to her surprise. So she hit the books. Simon had not had a bath in weeks.
After a while, Addie’s mother poked her Without being asked, Addie filled the
head in. “Did you do your homework?” she asked. washtub and gave Simon a scrubbing.
“Yes!” Addie replied. “What a nice surprise!” Addie’s mother said
“Did you do it carefully?” her mother asked. when she saw what Addie had done. “You
“Yes, mama,” Addie replied. gave Simon his bath!”
“Very well then,” her mother said. “I did,” Addie replied. “And I did it gently,
just like you do!”
“Very well
then,” her
mother said.
Which adverb tells how Addie did her Which adverb tells how Addie bathed the dog?
homework? Circle it. Circle it.
3 8
On Thursday,
Addie’s parents
G
were painting the
M
hallway. It was a
Q
tough job. They
asked Addie to W
play with her little K

A
sister while they
worked.
Addie was happy to help. She read to her
sister and helped her build a block tower. She
pretended to be an elephant while her sister On Tuesday, Addie’s mother made a pie for
laughed and clapped. Mrs. Montgomery, the old woman who lived
When her parents finished painting, they down the street. She asked Addie to deliver the
gave Addie a hug. pie right after school.
“Did you play with your sister?” they asked. “Hurry!” Addie’s mother said. “The pie is still
“Yes!” Addie replied. warm. If you bring it to her soon, she can have
“Did you play nicely?” Addie’s mother asked. a slice with her afternoon tea.”
“Yes, mama,” Addie replied. Addie took the pie to Mrs. Montgomery. She
“Very well then,” her mother said. asked about Mrs. Montgomery’s bad back and
remembered to say “You’re welcome” when
Which adverb tells how Addie played with her Mrs. Montgomery thanked her for the pie.
sister? Circle it.
7 4
When Addie returned, her mother asked,
On Wednesday,
“Did you deliver the pie?”
Addie’s parents
took a look at her
“Did you deliver it quickly?” Addie’s
bedroom. It was a
mother asked.
mess. There were
toys on the floor
“And did you deliver it politely?” her
and dirty clothes
mother added.
spilling out of the
hamper.
“Very well then,” her mother said.
Addie’s parents told her to straighten her
room from top to bottom. Addie did. When
she was done, she went downstairs.
“Did you clean your room?” Addie’s father
asked.
“Did you clean it completely?” her father
added.
“Yes, dad,” Addie replied.
“Very well then,” her father said.
Which adverb tells how Addie cleaned her
Which two adverbs tell how Addie delivered
room? Circle it.
the pie? Circle them.
5 6
Page 47 • Pronoun Power • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
}
} }
}
Fill in each blank with a pronoun from the list on page 10.
}
1. Jim is my brother. _________________ is older than me.
2. Those are rare flowers. Do not pick ________________ .

Power }
}
3. Do you know the Franklins? ________________ live next
door to me.
4. That book is heavy! ________ must weigh five pounds.
5. Excuse me, can ______________ tell me what time it is?
6. Caitlin and I missed the bus, so Mom gave
_______________________ a ride.
7. Vince was hungry, so I shared my snack with ______ .
8. ___________________ finished my homework. Did you?
Go Further: Ask a family member to give you a Personal Pronouns

sentence with one or more nouns. Show how you can
replace the nouns with pronouns.
Name
11
} }
} } } }
Want to be a winner in the Replace some nouns with pronouns
grammar race? Replace some whenever you speak or write. Pronouns can
nouns with pronouns to save time be useful when space or time are tight!
and space!
Some pronouns include:
Pronouns are words that take
the place of nouns in a sentence.
Some examples of pronouns are: I They
I you them You Me
He Him
Look for these and other
examples on pages 2–9! She Her
It Us
We Them
} }
}
How many of the pronouns above did you
find on pages 2–9 ? Put a check next to
each pronoun you found.
} }
}
1 10
Let pronouns take the place of nouns when Use pronouns when you’re writing a letter
you sing a birthday wish. home from camp.
}
} } }
}
}
Before }
} } }
}
}
Before
Happy birthday to Mia! Happy birthday
to Mia! Happy birthday to Mia! Happy Dear Mom and Dad,
birthday to Mia! Shawn swam across the lake. Shawn
loves camp!
}
} } } Love, Shawn
}
}
After
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday }

} } }
to you! Happy birthday to Mia! Happy }
}
After
birthday to you!
Dear Mom and Dad,
I swam across the lake. I love camp!
Love, Shawn
What noun does the pronoun I replace?

What noun does the pronoun you replace?
9 2
Use pronouns at the post office when you Let pronouns take the place of nouns when
need to buy a stamp. you order a favorite dish.
}
}
}
}
} } }
Before
} }
Before
}
} }
One stamp, please. Here is the I like onions and pineapple. May I get
money for the stamp. onions and pineapple on my pizza?
}
}
}
}
}
} } }
After
} }
After } }
One stamp, please. Here is the I like onions and pineapple. May I
money for it. get them on my pizza?
What noun does the pronoun it replace?
What noun does the pronoun them replace?
3 8
Pronouns come in handy when you’re in a Pronouns make good shortcuts when you’re
silly mood. giving a report.
}
} } }
}
}
Before }
} } }
}
}
Before
Ooh! Sam Slam is on the radio. I love
songs by Sam Slam! Earthquakes are natural disasters.
Earthquakes are dangerous.
}
} } } Earthquakes start deep under Earth’s
}
}
After
surface.
Ooh! Sam Slam is on the radio! I love
songs by him!
}
} } }
}
}
After
Earthquakes are natural disasters.

They are dangerous. They start deep under
Earth’s surface.
What noun does the pronoun they replace?

What noun does the pronoun him replace?
7 4
Pronouns make good shortcuts when you’re Pronouns come in handy when you’re
playing a fun sport. shopping for food and other things.
}
}
}
}
}
} }
Before
} }
Before
}
} }
Pass the ball to Hillary! Hillary is open! Mom, Dad, Ben, Den, Jen, and I
need toothpaste. Mom, Dad, Ben, Den,
Jen, and I need bananas, too.
}
}
} } }
After }
}
}
} } }
Pass it to Hillary! She is open. After }
We need toothpaste. We need
bananas, too.
What noun does the pronoun it replace?
What nouns does the pronoun we replace?
What noun does the pronoun she replace?
5 6
Page 53 • Up, Down, All Around • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
}
} }
}
Fill in each blank with a preposition that makes sense.

You can use prepositions from the story, or others.
1. It’s hot! Let’s jump _____________________ the pool.
2. We saw someone litter __________ the playground.
3. Don’t go _________ that door until you have wiped

your feet.
4. I sat ______ the desk and played a computer game.
5. The Franklins live ____________________________ us.
6. Please put the package ________________ the table.
7. The fiction books are ___________________________

the nonfiction books.
8. Oliver sent a letter _______ his cousin in Nebraska.
Go Further: Hide a pencil or other object for a

friend to find. Use prepositions to give your friend Prepositions
three clues to help him or her find the object. For
example, you might say that the hidden object is “near
the window” or “in the cabinet.”
Name
11
And there, a very tired Sasha plunked down
} on a bench and waited for the bell to ring. She
} }
had done enough searching for one day!
Prepositions are words that
tell where something is, where
something is going, or when
something is happening. Here
are some prepositions:
under over in near
See how many others you can
find in this preposition-packed
story!
} }
}
1 10
So Sasha put her backpack on her back, Up, Down, All Around
took Eddie’s hand, and set off for school once
again. She and Eddie hurried: One spring morning, Sasha put her
backpack on her back, kissed her mother
down the driveway, good-bye, and set off for school with her big
brother, Eddie.
up Cherry Street, Sasha and Eddie followed the same path
they always did. They walked:
along the sidewalk,
near the library, down the driveway,
past the police station, up Cherry Street,
between the shops, and along the sidewalk.
through the park,
and into the schoolyard.
Circle all the prepositions that are used to tell

about the path Sasha and Eddie took. Circle two prepositions that are used to tell
about the path Sasha and Eddie took.
9 2
They walked: “Sweetheart,” Sasha’s mom responded. I
can tell that you have searched very hard. But
near the library, did you look inside your backpack?”
Sasha opened her backpack and peered
past the police station,
inside. There was her purple lunch box!
between the shops, “Now you’d better hurry back to school,”
said Sasha’s mom. “You don’t want to be late.”
and through the park.
Finally, they walked into the schoolyard.
Circle three prepositions that are used to tell
3 8
“Mom, I have lost my lunch!” Sasha cried.

“Eddie and I have looked everywhere!
We looked:
up the driveway,
down Cherry Street,
along the sidewalk,
near the library,
between the shops,
through the park,
and in the schoolyard. Sasha smiled at Eddie and thanked him for
walking her to school. As a special thank-you,
And it’s nowhere to be found!” she decided to give him a sugar cookie from
her lunch. That’s when she discovered that she
was not carrying her lunch box!
Circle five prepositions that are used to tell “Oh no!” Sasha cried. “I lost my lunch on
about where Sasha and Eddie looked. the way to school.”
7 4
Sasha and Eddie decided to look for Next, Sasha and Eddie walked:
Sasha’s lost lunch. They followed the same
path they had taken to school. Only this time, along the sidewalk,
they went backward! Sasha and Eddie walked:
down Cherry Street,
out of the schoolyard, and up the driveway.
through the park,
Still, they did not spot Sasha’s lunch.
between the shops, Finally, they went to the door and called for
their mom.
and near the library.
But they did not spot
Sasha’s lunch anywhere.
SCHOOL
Circle two prepositions that are used to tell
Circle four prepositions that are used to tell
5 6
Page 59 • The Talent Show • Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources
}
} }
}
Look at the underlined word in each sentence.

Decide if it is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. The Talent
Write the correct part of speech on the line.
} }
1. I think Dad already started the car. ______________ Show }
}
2. He spilled popcorn all over the floor. _____________
Parts of Speech Review
3. Can you swim across the pool? ___________________
4. Rex played the violin very softly. _________________
5. A giant mosquito flew into the car. _______________
6. Chris has a new bicycle. _________________________
7. Janell, please pour the milk. _____________________
8. That math book is very thick. ____________________
Go Further: Write your own “parts of speech story”

to share with a friend. Leave at least three blanks in
your story. Ask your friend to supply the missing nouns,
verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
Name
7
Parts of Speech Review At the end of the show, the judges announced
❋ A noun names a person, place, or thing.
Some examples are: the winner. First prize went to _________________ ,
sister school cookie (proper noun for
a person’s name)
❋ A proper noun names a specific person, place,
or thing. Some examples are: who had done some __________________________
John Hilltop School New York (adjective)
❋ A plural noun names more than one person, tricks. The lucky winner was given a very
place, or thing. Some examples are:
sisters schools cookies
________________________________________ trophy.
❋ A verb names an action word. Some (adjective)
examples are:
After the show, everyone gathered in the
run toss write
❋ An adjective describes a noun. Some examples are:
cafeteria to eat some __________________________
happy slimy little (adjective)
❋ An adverb describes a verb and often ends in –ly.
_____________________________________________ .
Some examples are: (plural noun)
slowly kindly sadly
Review the parts of speech in the box. Draw a picture of a talent show act
Then complete the story on pages 2–6. Fill in each on the cover of this book.
blank with a word for the correct part of speech.
1 6
The Talent Show

At last, it was my turn! For my performance,
Dear Diary,
I decided to do an imitation of a wild
Tonight was our school talent show, and it was
_______________________________________________ .
(noun) _________________________ . The theme for the event
(adjective)
I wore my favorite _____________________________
(noun) was __________________________ , and the whole gym
(plural noun)
and did a good job. The only problem was that I
was decorated with _____________________________ .
(plural noun)
forgot to ____________________________ . Oh, well! It looked _________________________________ !

(verb) (adjective)
The first contestant was _______________________ .

(proper noun for a girl’s name)
Her talent was juggling. She juggled
________________________ ________________________
(adjective) (plural noun)
without dropping a single one! Then she walked off
the stage ________________________________ .

Draw a picture of your performance. (adverb ending in –ly )
5 2
Next, _______________________________ came on The next two performers were singers.
(proper noun for a boy’s name)
stage. He played an instrument that looked like a Together, they sang a _______________________ song
(adjective)
cross between a _____________________________ and a about ___________________________ . They sang quite
(singular noun) (plural noun)
___________________________ . As he played, everyone ___________________________ , and their voices made
(singular noun) (adverb ending in –ly )
began to ____________________________________ and everyone ______________________________________ .
(verb) (verb)
__________________________________ . When the song was over, _______________________
(verb) (proper noun for a boy’s name)
The next performer was ________________________ . did a dance routine. First, he would
(proper noun for a girl’s name)
She did several magic tricks. First, she pulled a _________________________ to the left. Then he would
(verb)
_____________________ from a _____________________ . ______________________________ to the right. Then he
(noun) (noun) (verb)
Then she turned a girl from the audience into a tried to _______________________________ ! He looked
(verb)
_______________________________________ . a bit like a ______________________________________ .
(noun) (noun)
3 4
Answers }
}
} } }
}
The List
page 4: circle store on the list; underline ShopWell

page 6: circle cereal on the list; underline Yummios
page 7: circle juice on the list; underline Berryade
page 8: circle lady on the list; underline Aunt Gertrude
page 11: Answers will vary.
GO FURTHER: Answers will vary.
Now and Then

The Elves and the Toymaker
page 4: enjoyed climbed, played

pages 2, 6, 8, 9, and 10: Answers will vary.
page 6: washed, cleaned, went, helped
page 11: 1. , 2. dishes, 3. , 4. pennies,
page 8: wore, pulled, dressed, covered
5. leaves, 6. , 7. , 8. desks
page 10: ate, dined, snacked, drank
page 11: 1. We crossed the street.
2. I waited for the bus. 3. I played at
Verbman Saves the Day!
recess. 4. Ships sailed by. 5. The stores
opened early. 6. I picked up the papers.
page 4: Any two of these action verbs should
7. We grew flowers. 8. I rode my bike.
be circled: leaped, raced, used, tossed, pitched,
GO FURTHER: Responses will vary.
swung, ran, said
page 6: Any two of these action verbs should be
Lost Dog
circled: called, rushed, worked, sprinkled, buzzed,
studied, read, looked, shouted page 11: Answers will vary.
page 8: Any two of these action verbs should be GO FURTHER: Responses will vary.
circled: broke, returned, talked, typed, wrote,
exclaimed The Best Time
page 10: Any two of these action verbs should be
circled: cried, spread, sprang, swam, fished, flew, page 11: 1. kindest, 2. harder, 3. happy,
called, stopped, missed, returned, collect 4. more crowded, 5. coolest, 6. tough,
page 11: Answers will vary. 7. slowest, 8. most bashful
GO FURTHER: Answers will vary. GO FURTHER: Responses will vary.
Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources 63
Addie’s Adverbs
page 2: neatly page 11: 1. slowly, 2. loudly,

page 3: carefully 3. quietly, 4. early,
page 5: quickly, politely 5. immediately, 6. happily,
page 6: completely 7. neatly, 8. snugly
page 7: nicely GO FURTHER: Adverbs will vary.
page 8: gently
Pronoun Power
page 2: Shawn page 8: onions and pineapple

page 3: stamp page 9: Mia
page 4: earthquakes page 10: I, you, she, it, we, they, him, them
page 5: ball, Hillary page 11: 1. He, 2. them, 3. They, 4. It,
page 6: Mom, Dad, Ben, Den, Jen, and I 5. you, 6. us, 7. him, 8. I
page 7: Sam Slam GO FURTHER: Responses will vary.
Up, Down, All Around
page 2: Any two of these prepositions should be circled: down, up, along
page 3: Any three of these prepositions should be circled: near, past, between, through, into
page 5: Any four of these prepositions should be circled: out, through, between, past, near
page 6: Any two of these prepositions should be circled: along, down, up
page 7: Any five of these prepositions should be circled: up, down, along, near, past, between, through, in
page 9: All of these prepositions should be circled: down, up, along, near, past, between, through, into
page 11: Answers will vary.
GO FURTHER: Responses will vary.
The Talent Show
pages 2–6: Answers will vary.

page 7: 1. noun, 2. verb, 3. verb, 4. adverb,
5. adjective, 6. noun, 7. verb, 8. adjective
64 Read & Practice Mini-Books: Parts of Speech © 2009 Karen Kellaher, Scholastic Teaching Resources

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Read & Practice Mini-Books

10 Interactive Mini-Books That Help Students

NEW YORK • TORONTO • LONDON • AUCKLAND • SYDNEY

Edited and produced by Immacula A. Rhodes

Text copyright © 2009 by Karen Kellaher

How to Assemble the Mini-Books .................................................................. 4