Another table exercise consists in arranging two groups of fifty cards, of which twenty-five are nouns (constituting the directing group), while the other twenty-five are adjectives. The nouns are put in a row and the child looks among the adjectives (which have been thoroughly shuffled) for those which are best suited to the different nouns. As he finds them he places them by the nouns with which they belong. Sometimes the nouns and adjectives placed together cause a great deal of merriment by the amusing contrasts that arise. The children try to put as many adjectives as possible with the same noun and develop in this way the most interesting combinations. Here are two groups which come prepared with the material:
_Nome_ _Aggettivo_ _Adjective_ _Noun_ contadina allegra happy peasant-girl casa bella beautiful house zia brava good aunt mamma cara dear mother professore alto tall professor meastra magra thin (lean) teacher lavandaia pulita neat washerwoman marinaio robusto strong sailor carrettiere abbronzato sunburnt wagon-driver bambino buono good child lavagnetta rettangolare square slate foglio bianco white paper (sheet of) panchetto basso low bench prisma grosso thick prism vaso largo broad vase foglia verde green leaf circolo perfetto perfect circle pizzicagnolo grosso fat butcher testa unta oily (dirty) head gomma densa hard, dense rubber fanciullo stizzito cross, angry child figlio obbediente obedient son pietra nera black rock, stone latte bianco white milk formaggio tenero soft, tender cheese carne fresca fresh meat vino rosso red wine disegno grazioso pretty drawing perla lucente shining pearl vetro trasparente transparent glass ragazzina impertinente impertinent lass asino paziente patient donkey gallina grassa fat hen topo agile quick, nimble mouse acqua limpida clear water saponetta odorosa perfumed, fragrant soap medico bravo good doctor giardiniere bizzarro surly gardener cane arrabbiato mad dog manicotto morbido soft muff gatto arruffato ruffled cat colombo viaggiatore travelling (carrier) pigeon uomo brontolone grumbling man ragno pericoloso dangerous spider serpente velenoso poisonous snake medicina amara bitter medicine nonna indulgente indulgent, kind grandmother babbo severo strict father vespa maligna cruel wasp cassetto ordinato orderly box