Examples of Behavioral Verbs and Student Activities

Dr. Bob Kizlik

Updated June 13, 2014

The following examples of student activities are meant to illustrate the uses of the defined behavioral
verbs in classroom settings involving the specific subject content areas listed below. Although these
examples could be turned into behavioral learning objectives rather easily, they are not complete
objectives. They are missing one component. A very popular new program that expands on this list within
the context of lesson planning is available now from ADPRIMA.Please click here for details. Learn how
to write lesson plans that use these, and an expanded list of verbs!

Most of the examples contain descriptions of student behavior and the general conditions under which it
occurs. Both of these are required for the interpretation of student behavior. However, none contains
criteria of acceptable performance, the third segment of a behavioral objective. The purpose of these
examples is to clarify the meaning of the definitions of behavioral verbs. With a clear knowledge of the
meaning of these verbs, a person should be able to classify the learning behavior of any student he
observes, whether or not he knows the learning objective. It's all about understanding what a student
is doing that shows the intended behavior. For example, a person who observes a student pointing out on
a chart of atomic diagrams, the diagrams that represent elements named by the teacher, will be able to
classify the behavior as identifying.

Please send any comments or questions to Dr. Bob Kizlik at ADPRIMA.

Four content areas are available:

English Language Arts

Be sure to also see the generic definitions of the behavioral verbs, as they will help you put the examples
below in the proper context.

Examples of Activities: English Language Arts

Apply a Rule. In response to the question, "Is cttn an English word?" the student would reply, "No,
because it has no vowels. All English words must have at least one vowel."

Classify. The student could be asked to classify the words of given sentences into categories of parts of
speech. He could be asked to literary forms according to style (novel, drama, poetry, etc.).

Compose. The student could be asked to compose a limerick.

Construct. From the description provided in the text, the student could be asked to construct a model of
the frontier settlement described in Singing Wheels, fourth level reader.

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Define. The student could be given a number of words and be asked to figure out ways that similar words
could be grouped. His response might include statements such as, "The words that tell about color could
be put into one group. Those that tell about the feelings of people could be put into another group. Those
that don't ell about anything could be put in another group. NOTE: Defining is not memorizing and writing
definitions written by someone else - it is creating definitions.

Demonstrate. The student could be asked to demonstrate with a percussion instrument, the rhythm
(meter) of a poem by Edgar Allen Poe.

Describe. The student could be asked to describe the procedures of a formal debate.

Diagram. The student could be asked to diagram the stage settings for Man and Superman by G.B.
Shaw.

Distinguish. Given a list of pairs of nouns and pronouns, the student could be asked to distinguish
between the two.

Estimate. The student could be asked to estimate, within twenty-five pages, the page number where any
given word would be found in a 475 page dictionary.

Identify. The student could be asked to identify all the consonants in the alphabet. He could be asked to
identify a sonnet from among several examples of poetry.

Interpret. The student could be asked to interpret any passage of literature that is given to him.

Locate. The student could be asked to locate, in time, the English Romantic Period.

Name. The student could be asked to name the parts of speech. He could be asked to name five authors
of the Early American Period. He could be asked to name three literary works of Americans who are also
Black.

Order. Given a series of scrambled paragraphs, the student could be asked to order them to conform
with short essay style.

State a Rule. the student could be asked to state a rule covering the use of "ei", "ie" combinations in the
spelling of words.

Translate. Given a passage from a Shakespeare play, the student could be asked to translate it into
modern American English.

Examples of Activities: Science

Apply a Rule: The student could be asked to explain why a shotgun "kicks" when fired. His response
would include a statement to the effect that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
(Newton's Law of Motion), and that the "kick" of the shotgun is equal to the force propelling the shot
toward its target. The faster the shot travels and the greater the weight of the shot, the greater the "kick"
of the gun.

Classify: Given several examples of each, the student could be asked to classify materials according to
their physical properties as gas, liquid, or solid.

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Construct: The student could be asked to construct a model of a carbon atom.

Define: Given several types of plant leaves, the student could be asked to define at least three categories
for classifying them. NOTE: Defining is not memorizing and writing definitions created by someone else --
it is creating definitions.

Demonstrate: Given a model of the earth, sun, and moon so devised that it may be manipulated to show
the orbits of the earth and moon, the student could be asked to demonstrate the cause of various phases
of the moon as viewed from earth.

Describe: The student could be asked to describe the conditions essential for a balanced aquarium that
includes four goldfish.

Diagram: The student could be asked to diagram the life cycle of a grasshopper.

Distinguish: Given a list of paired element names, the student could be asked to distinguish between the
metallic and non-metallic element in each pair.

Estimate: The student could be asked to estimate the amount of heat given off by one liter of air
compressed to one-half its original volume.

Evaluate: Given several types of materials, the student could be asked to evaluate them to determine
which is the best conductor of electricity.

Identify: Given several types of materials, the student could be asked to identify those which would be
attracted to a magnet.

Interpret: The student could be asked to interpret a weather map taken from a newspaper.

Locate: The student could be asked to locate the position of chlorine on the periodic table. NOTE: To
locate is to describe location. It is not identification of location.

Measure: Given a container graduated in cubic centimeters, the student could be asked to measure a
specific amount of liquid.

Name: The student could be asked to name the parts of an electromagnet.

Order: The student could be asked to order a number of animal life forms according to their normal
length of life.

Predict: From a description of the climate and soils of an area, the student could be asked to predict the
plant ecology of the area.

Solve: The student could be asked to solve the following: How many grams of H2O will be formed by the
complete combustion of one liter of hydrogen at 70 degrees C?

State a Rule: The student could be asked to state a rule that tells what form the offspring of mammals will
be, i.e. they will be very similar to their parent organisms.

Translate: The student could be asked to translate 93,000,000 into standard scientific notation.

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Examples of Activities: Mathematics

Apply a Rule: Given a pair of equations such as 2 + 4 + 7 = 13, and 7 + 2 + 4 = ___, the student could be
asked to apply a rule that would give him the solution to the second equation of the pair without adding
the factors. His response should include a statement to the effect that the same numbers are to be added
in each equation, but in different order (analysis) and that the order of addition makes no difference in the
solution of the equations. Therefore, the sum of both equations is the same.

Classify: Given a series of numbers drawn at random from 1 - 1000, the student could be asked to
classify them into categories of even divisibility by 2, 3, 4, and so on.

Construct: Given a straight edge, compass, and paper, the student could be asked to construct an
equilateral triangle.

Define: Given an assortment of various kinds of coins, the student could be asked to define some
categories into which the coins could be classified. His response would include definitions such as, "All of
the pennies, all of the nickels, all of the dimes, etc., could be put in separate piles. Or all the coins
containing silver could be put in one pile and those that don't into another pile."

Demonstrate: Given a sufficient number of concrete objects and an equation such as 3 x 4 = 12, the
student could be asked to use the objects to demonstrate that multiplication is repeated addition. His
response would include placement of twelve objects in three groups of four each, or four groups of three
each. He may also be asked to describe how the demonstrations show repeated addition.

Describe: The student could be asked to describe a method of determining a number of groups of five
objects in a collection of 45 objects. The response would include a statement that groups of five members
would be counted out and then the number of groups could be counted. The student may also be asked
to demonstrate the process he described.

Diagram: The student could be asked to graph the equation y = 2x2 - x + 3.

Distinguish: Given pairs of numbers, one number of each pair a prime number, the student could be
asked to identify the prime number in each pair.

Estimate: Given multiplication examples with three-digit numerals in both the multiplier and multiplicand,
the student estimates the products to the nearest thousand.

Identify: The student could be asked to point to the numeral ninety-four on a numeration chart.

Interpret: Given a bar graph showing the per unit cost of food products when purchased in various size
packages, the student interprets it by stating the lowest and highest per unit cost and by describing the
relationship between increased package size and per unit cost of the product.

Locate: The student could be asked to locate a particular desk in his classroom by stating the row it is in
and the ordinal position from the front of the room. "John's desk is the fourth one from the front, in the
second row, from the east wall."

Measure: Given a protractor and a set of obtuse and acute triangles, the student could be asked to
measure the interior angles.

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Name: What is the name of this collection of objects? Answer: "A set." What is the name of this type of
equation? Answer: "A quadratic equation."

Order: Given a number of objects of different lengths, the student orders them from lesser to greater
length.

Predict: The student could be asked to predict the next term in an increasing arithmetic series such as 2,
5, 9, 14 ____.

Solve: The student could be asked to solve the following: 2 + 3 = ____. In this example, the type of
operation is clearly indicated. Or, he could be asked to solve the following: "Jimmy, John, Bill, and Sam
each had three marbles. John gave Bill two of his marbles. How many marbles did Jimmy and Sam have
together then?" In this example, the operation to be performed is not specified, and extraneous factors
are introduced.

State a Rule: In response to the question: "Why is the sum of two numbers no different if the order of
adding them is reversed?" The student answers: "Because of the commutative principle," or "Because the
order makes no difference in addition."

Examples of Activities: Social Studies

Apply a Rule: Given population data that illustrates the principle that the standard of living decreases if
population increases without corresponding increase in production, the student could be asked to analyze
the data to tell and tell how he is able to determine what effects changing population will have upon the
standard of living.

Classify: Given photographs of various people and definitions of racial classes, the student could be
asked to classify the photographs according to the races of the people portrayed.

Construct: Given appropriate materials, the student could be asked to construct a model of a city water
system.

Define: Given a filmed or taped situation in which several forms of communication are portrayed, the
student could be asked to define several categories of communication. His response could include
definitions for verbal, non-verbal, pictorial, visual, auditory, or any of several other classes or categories of
communication.

Demonstrate: The student could be asked to demonstrate the use of calipers to determine the
measurements for obtaining cephalic indices. Or he could be asked to demonstrate use of a compass to
determine direction.

Describe: The student could be asked to describe the culture of a particular Indian tribe.

Diagram: The student could be asked to diagram the steps involved in the passage of a bill though the
legislature.

Distinguish: Given the names of ancient Greek and Roman gods paired according to function, the
student could be asked to distinguish between them.

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Estimate: Given the day of the year and the latitude, the student could be asked to estimate the length of
daylight at a particular place.

Identify: Given the name of one of the U.S. presidents, and photographs of several, the student could be
asked to identify the picture of the one which was named.

Interpret: Given a bar graph that shows production of steel in the U.S. during the last fifty years, the
student could be asked to interpret the graph. His response could include references to times of
production increases or decreases, total amount of decreases or increases, and differences in production
between the years.

Label: The student could be given an outline map of a country and be asked to label the major cities and
rivers.

Locate: The student could be asked to locate, in time, the first battle of the American Revolution.

Measure: Given a string and a globe with a scale of miles, the student could be asked to measure the
scaled distance between any two given points.

Name: The student could be asked to name the factors that contribute to natural population increases.

Order: Given the names of the declared wars in which the U.S. has engaged, the student could be asked
to order them according to the time of occurrence.

Predict: The student could be asked to predict the type of economy that could be supported in described
geographic regions.

Solve: Given tables of prices and costs, the student could be asked to solve problems related to the law
of diminishing returns.

State a Rule: In response to the question: "What controlled the inheritance of family property in the
European Middle Ages?" the student would respond with a statement that indicated that property was
inherited by the eldest son.

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