Lesson planner · classroom toolsBloom's Taxonomy Verbs
Find the right verb for a learning objective. Search the list or tap a verb to copy it. Each level has question starters too.
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What is Bloom's taxonomy?
Bloom's taxonomy sorts thinking into six levels, from recalling facts to creating something new: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate and Create. Teachers use its verbs to write objectives and questions at the right level of challenge.
The original taxonomy was published in 1956 by a group led by Benjamin Bloom. The revised version used here was published in 2001 by Lorin Anderson and David Krathwohl, who changed the levels to verbs and put Create at the top.
Bloom's taxonomy verbs by level
| Level | What students do | Verbs |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Remember | Recall facts and basic concepts. | define, list, name, recall, recognize, identify, label, match, memorize, repeat, state, locate |
| 2. Understand | Explain ideas or concepts. | explain, describe, summarize, classify, compare, interpret, paraphrase, discuss, give examples of, illustrate, predict, retell |
| 3. Apply | Use information in new situations. | use, solve, demonstrate, calculate, apply, construct, model, show, carry out, measure, organize, sketch |
| 4. Analyze | Draw connections among ideas. | analyze, compare and contrast, distinguish, examine, categorize, investigate, sequence, infer, test, question, break down, differentiate |
| 5. Evaluate | Justify a stand or decision. | evaluate, justify, argue, assess, critique, defend, judge, rank, recommend, support, decide, prioritize |
| 6. Create | Produce new or original work. | create, design, compose, plan, invent, develop, formulate, build, write, produce, propose, devise |
Using the verbs well
- Match the verb to what students actually do in the lesson, not to the level you wish they reached.
- Higher isn't always better: students often need to remember and understand before they can analyze.
- Some verbs appear at more than one level; the task decides the level.
Put a verb to work in the learning objectives writer.
Frequently asked questions
What are the six levels of Bloom's taxonomy?
In the revised taxonomy: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate and Create.
What is the difference between the original and revised Bloom's taxonomy?
The 2001 revision renamed the levels as verbs (for example Knowledge became Remember) and swapped the top two, making Create the highest level instead of Evaluation.
Which verbs should I avoid in objectives?
Verbs you can't observe, such as know, understand, learn and appreciate. Use a verb that shows the understanding instead, such as explain or summarize.