We are just beginning our 5th grade journey through figurative
language, and I thought I would share an engaging and no-prep activity we did
today to focus in on similes and metaphors.
language, and I thought I would share an engaging and no-prep activity we did
today to focus in on similes and metaphors.
I created these figurative language mats and copied them doubled-sided –
similes on one side and metaphors on the other. The mats ask students to
identify a simile/metaphor, illustrate it, explain it, apply it to their lives,
and then, change it into a simile/metaphor. {You can grab the mats here for
free}
similes on one side and metaphors on the other. The mats ask students to
identify a simile/metaphor, illustrate it, explain it, apply it to their lives,
and then, change it into a simile/metaphor. {You can grab the mats here for
free}
Then, I grouped the students (based on their mastery of yesterday’s exit
slip) and distributed a book to each table. {I used – Owl Moon, Crazy
Like a Fox, Quick as a Cricket, Snow, and Wilfrid Gordon
McDonald Partridge.} I had each group read the WHOLE book. They weren’t
allowed to find a simile/metaphor and quit. Nope. Not allowed.
slip) and distributed a book to each table. {I used – Owl Moon, Crazy
Like a Fox, Quick as a Cricket, Snow, and Wilfrid Gordon
McDonald Partridge.} I had each group read the WHOLE book. They weren’t
allowed to find a simile/metaphor and quit. Nope. Not allowed.
After finishing the book, each member of the group chose a simile or metaphor
and added it to the center of their paper.
and added it to the center of their paper.
Then, the students worked together to analyze the simile or metaphor –
illustrating it, explaining it, applying the simile to their lives, and then,
changing the metaphor or simile into the other (a simile or metaphor). This
last part was definitely the hardest for my kids. It challenged their understanding
of similes and metaphors.
illustrating it, explaining it, applying the simile to their lives, and then,
changing the metaphor or simile into the other (a simile or metaphor). This
last part was definitely the hardest for my kids. It challenged their understanding
of similes and metaphors.
After all of our friends were finished, we did a few rounds of Stand Up,
Hand Up, Pair Up to share their fourth box (the translate it box). They read
the simile or metaphor that they had created, read it to their partner, and
their partner had to decide what their initial simile/metaphor was! Depending
on how much their partner struggled, the kids had to go back and edit the
phrase they created/shared.
Hand Up, Pair Up to share their fourth box (the translate it box). They read
the simile or metaphor that they had created, read it to their partner, and
their partner had to decide what their initial simile/metaphor was! Depending
on how much their partner struggled, the kids had to go back and edit the
phrase they created/shared.
Does this make any sense?? It was very cool to watch my kids in action, and
the activity really showed me the ‘gaps’ in my kids learning. We will debrief first
thing tomorrow morning, and ‘tweak’ our understanding of metaphors before we
move on to hyperboles and idioms. 🙂 Do you have any go-to activities for
teaching figurative language? If so, I would love to hear your ideas!
the activity really showed me the ‘gaps’ in my kids learning. We will debrief first
thing tomorrow morning, and ‘tweak’ our understanding of metaphors before we
move on to hyperboles and idioms. 🙂 Do you have any go-to activities for
teaching figurative language? If so, I would love to hear your ideas!
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Kelly Anne says
November 8, 2013 at 9:10 amLOVE the "apply it" idea. I think if they can do that, then they definitely know what they're talking about! Thanks for sharing your lesson AND a freebie- I love it! 🙂
Kelly Anne
AppleSlices
Melissa says
November 9, 2013 at 1:14 pmI love that you had them change it to another simile or metaphor after finding and recording. We haven't started figurative language yet, but I'm pinning to remember this! Thanks for sharing.
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Flamingos and Butterflies says
November 11, 2013 at 12:42 amThanks for the great figurative language resources!
Tina
Flamingos and Butterflies