Action Verbs Trace & Write Handwriting Workbook
Free printable Foundation handwriting resource
Action verbs handwriting turns 62 movement, classroom and everyday action words into Foundation writing practice. Children say and demonstrate verbs such as hop, carry, fold and stir, discuss their picture sentences, then trace and copy the written words.
Preview what is inside
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Use the arrows or dots to see the front cover, one glossary page and one handwriting sheet. The two inside-page previews are watermarked; download the PDF for clean printable pages.
Connect movement verbs with Body Parts Handwriting Workbook: 35 Words, then use Feelings Handwriting Workbook: 20 Words for language about how an activity feels.
Explore action verbs handwriting
The set includes visible whole-body movements as well as actions involving tools, senses and daily routines. Push and pull, open and close, and sleep and wake make useful contrasts. Sixteen practice pages provide plenty of material for selecting a small action group rather than completing the collection in one sitting.
What is included?
- 62 words: run, jump, hop, walk, sit, stand, clap, kick, roll, crawl, skip, climb, throw, catch, swim, dance, push, pull, lift, carry, read, write, draw, sing, balance, stretch, bend, turn, reach, kneel, slide, swing, hit, bounce, wave, point, open, close, cut, fold, tear, stick, paint, talk, listen, look, smell, taste, touch, wash, pour, stir, build, dig, plant, count, share, play, eat, drink, sleep, wake.
- 13 picture-glossary pages with meanings and example sentences.
- 16 handwriting sheets using grey models, dotted letters and independent copying space.
- 33 PDF pages in total: front cover, instructions, glossary, handwriting sheets and two terms pages.
Teaching action verbs handwriting
Choose four actions that can be demonstrated safely in the available space. Say each verb as a child performs it, read its glossary sentence and model the written form. Complete the three writing strips before asking another pupil to identify the action from the word alone. Explain that an action word can be used in many sentences; the printed example is one context.
Meanings in the action verbs handwriting glossary
run
Meaning: To move quickly on your feet.
Example: I can run past the gate.
jump
Meaning: To push off the ground with your feet.
Example: I can jump into the air.
hop
Meaning: To jump on one foot.
Example: I can hop on one foot.
walk
Meaning: To move by taking steps.
Example: I can walk along the path.
sit
Meaning: To rest your body on your bottom.
Example: I can sit on the mat.
stand
Meaning: To hold your body upright on your feet.
Example: I can stand on both feet.
clap
Meaning: To bring your hands together to make a sound.
Example: I can clap my hands.
kick
Meaning: To hit something with your foot.
Example: I can kick the ball.
roll
Meaning: To move by turning over and over.
Example: I can roll the ball.
crawl
Meaning: To move on your hands and knees.
Example: I can crawl on the floor.
skip
Meaning: To move with a step and a hop.
Example: I can skip along the path.
climb
Meaning: To move up using your hands and feet.
Example: I can climb the ladder.
throw
Meaning: To send something through the air by hand.
Example: I can throw the ball.
catch
Meaning: To stop and hold something that is moving.
Example: I can catch the ball.
swim
Meaning: To move through water using your body.
Example: I can swim in the pool.
dance
Meaning: To move your body to music.
Example: I can dance to the music.
push
Meaning: To move something away using force.
Example: I can push the wagon.
pull
Meaning: To bring something towards you using force.
Example: I can pull the wagon.
lift
Meaning: To move something upwards.
Example: I can lift the box.
carry
Meaning: To hold something while you move.
Example: I can carry a bag.
read
Meaning: To understand written words.
Example: I can read a book.
write
Meaning: To make letters and words.
Example: I can write with a pencil.
draw
Meaning: To make a picture using lines.
Example: I can draw a circle.
sing
Meaning: To make musical sounds with your voice.
Example: Birds can sing a song.
balance
Meaning: To stay steady without falling.
Example: I can balance on one foot.
stretch
Meaning: To extend your body or a body part.
Example: I can stretch my arms up.
bend
Meaning: To make something curve or form an angle.
Example: I can bend my knees.
turn
Meaning: To move so you face a new direction.
Example: I can turn to the side.
reach
Meaning: To stretch out towards something.
Example: I can reach for the book.
kneel
Meaning: To rest on one or both knees.
Example: I can kneel on the mat.
slide
Meaning: To move smoothly along a surface.
Example: I can slide down the slide.
swing
Meaning: To move backwards and forwards.
Example: I can swing at the park.
hit
Meaning: To strike something.
Example: I can hit the ball with a bat.
bounce
Meaning: To move away after hitting a surface.
Example: I can bounce the ball.
wave
Meaning: To move your hand to greet someone.
Example: I can wave to my friend.
point
Meaning: To show something with your finger.
Example: I can point to the dot.
open
Meaning: To move something so it is no longer shut.
Example: I can open the door.
close
Meaning: To shut something.
Example: I can close the lid.
cut
Meaning: To divide something with a sharp tool.
Example: I can cut paper with scissors.
fold
Meaning: To bend one part over another.
Example: I can fold the paper.
tear
Meaning: To pull something apart.
Example: I can tear the paper.
stick
Meaning: To join things with something sticky.
Example: I can stick paper with glue.
paint
Meaning: To put colour on a surface with paint.
Example: We use a brush to paint.
talk
Meaning: To say words to someone.
Example: We can talk to each other.
listen
Meaning: To pay attention to a sound.
Example: I can listen to the sound.
look
Meaning: To use your eyes to see something.
Example: I can look through binoculars.
smell
Meaning: To notice a scent with your nose.
Example: I can smell the flower.
taste
Meaning: To notice a flavour with your tongue.
Example: I can taste the soup.
touch
Meaning: To feel something with part of your body.
Example: I can touch the soft cloth.
wash
Meaning: To clean using water.
Example: I can wash my hands.
pour
Meaning: To make liquid flow from a container.
Example: I can pour water into a cup.
stir
Meaning: To mix by moving a spoon around.
Example: I can stir with a spoon.
build
Meaning: To make something by joining parts.
Example: I can build a tower.
dig
Meaning: To make a hole in soil or sand.
Example: I can dig with a spade.
plant
Meaning: To put a seed or plant into soil to grow.
Example: I can plant a seed.
count
Meaning: To say numbers to find how many.
Example: I can count ten circles.
share
Meaning: To let others use or have part of something.
Example: We can share the blocks.
play
Meaning: To take part in an enjoyable activity.
Example: We can play a board game.
eat
Meaning: To take food into your mouth and swallow it.
Example: I can eat with a spoon.
drink
Meaning: To take liquid into your mouth.
Example: I can drink from a cup.
sleep
Meaning: To rest with your eyes closed.
Example: I can sleep in my bed.
wake
Meaning: To stop sleeping.
Example: I wake and stretch my arms.
Teaching and follow-up ideas
- Play a quiet mime-and-label game with sit, stand, wave and point.
- Group cut, fold, tear and stick as making actions before a craft activity.
- Pair push with pull and open with close to build opposite-action sentences.
Support and challenge
Offer pointing or seated gestures when movement is unsuitable. Keep short words such as run and hop available before longer sequences such as balance or stretch. Extend successful copying into instructions containing two verbs, then check the order of the actions as well as the writing.
To model the letter shapes consistently as pupils move from run to longer action words, see NSW Department of Education handwriting resources.
Resource licence
Free for personal, homeschool or single-classroom use under the terms included in the PDF. Resale, redistribution and uploading the file to another website are not permitted.
Questions about this workbook
Must children perform every action?
No. Use the picture and an adult demonstration, or discuss the sentence. Choose movements appropriate to the child and setting.
What is in the action verbs handwriting PDF?
There are 33 PDF pages: a cover, instructions, 13 glossary pages, 16 handwriting sheets and two terms pages.
Which vocabulary does this workbook cover?
run, jump, hop, walk, sit, stand, clap, kick, roll, crawl, skip, climb, throw, catch, swim, dance, push, pull, lift, carry, read, write, draw, sing, balance, stretch, bend, turn, reach, kneel, slide, swing, hit, bounce, wave, point, open, close, cut, fold, tear, stick, paint, talk, listen, look, smell, taste, touch, wash, pour, stir, build, dig, plant, count, share, play, eat, drink, sleep, wake.
How is the written practice arranged?
The 62 entries move through grey tracing models, dotted tracing and independent copying on Foundation guides. Use the glossary meanings before writing unfamiliar terms.
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