Action verbs make for fun lessons, full of movement and hands-on learning. Learning verbs and how to express ability are essential skills for young ESL learners. Here is a short small group verbs lesson to help give you some ideas next time you teach can/can't and verbs.

Below, you'll find a selection of songs and videos to help teach verbs and express ability (can/can't).

The videos are organized into three categories:

1. Songs

2. Educational Videos

3. Educational Games

Maple Leaf Learning: What Can You Do?

A short, fun, simple song. If showing the video, it features some funny puppets that kids find hilarious.

Verbs include

1. sing (a song),

2. climb (a tree),

3. catch (a ball),

4. fly (a kite),

5. drive (a car).

Fun Kids English: Yes, I Can! | Actions Song for Children | Action Verbs | Kindergarten, ESL & EFL | Fun Kids English

A nice, simple song set to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down." "Can you run? Run, run, run? Run, run, run? Can you run? Run, run, run? Yes, I can!"

Featured Verbs:

1. run

2. swim

3. fly

4. jump

The video includes some fun monster cartoons and is an easy song to sing and perform actions with kids.

Fun Kids English: I Can Jump! | Actions Song for Kids | Fun Kids English

If you like the above song, you may also enjoy this one by Fun Kids English. It's a nice, clear, and simple song that offers plenty of opportunities to easily do the actions as you sing along.

Featured Verbs:

1. jump

2. run

3. swim

4. shake

5. walk

6. hop

7. dance

8. skip

ELF Kids Videos: Can An Elephant Jump? - (original acoustic version) Song by ELF Learning

A fun song, "Can an elephant walk/run/swim /fly? Yes it can/ no it can't" walk, walk walk, stop!"

Educational Videos

English Singsing: Kids vocabulary - [NEW] Action Verbs - Action Words - Learn English for kids

A cartoon girl and animals introduce and demonstrate 12 verbs.

Examples:

• "Clap, you can clap. You can clap like a seal. Clap, clap."
  
  

• "Jump, you can jump. You can jump like a kangaroo. Jump, jump."
  
  

Featured Verbs:

1. clap

2. climb

3. dance

4. fly

5. hop

6. jump

7. run

8. stand

9. stomp

10. swim

11. waddle

12. walk

The Kids Picture Show: Stickman Verbs 1 - Learn Action Verbs - The Kids' Picture Show (Fun & Educational Learning Video)

A cool and interesting video that's great for kids but not too "kiddy." It uses stickmen to show verbs!

Featured Verbs:

1. walk

2. run

3. skip

4. hop

5. jump

6. swim

Maple Leaf Learning: Can / Can't - Simple Skits

A fun, short skit with puppets that kids find hilarious, using "I can/can't."

Featured Verbs:

1. swim

2. walk

3. climb

4. fly

5. ski

6. stop

Games

Games4ESL: Action Verbs Game

Guess the verb before the full screen is revealed! I like to pause after the first segment appears, encouraging students to guess early and see if they can get it right.

My English Center Online: Can or Can't English animals and verbs ESL

A 2-minute-long video asking fun ability questions about animals. "Can a crocodile read a book?" Yes, it can/No, it can't.

Armagan Citak: What Can Wild Animals Do?

Similar to the above video but 5 minutes long and featuring clips of real animals. "Yes" and "No" are shown on either side of the screen, so you can have students move to the side of the room to answer, encouraging them to get up and be active