Students will be able to identify common idioms and explain their literal and figurative meanings.
Understanding idioms is crucial for developing strong reading comprehension skills and a richer vocabulary, helping students decode tricky phrases in texts and everyday conversations.
Review the Idioms Slide Deck and become familiar with the content. - Print and cut out the idiom and meaning cards from the Idiom Match-Up Challenge for each group. - Ensure a projector or interactive whiteboard is available for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction: What's the Scoop?
5 minutes
Engage: Begin by asking students if they've ever heard someone say something that sounded confusing, like 'It's raining cats and dogs!' 2. Define: Introduce idioms as phrases where the words together mean something different from their individual meanings. Use the Idioms Slide Deck (Slide 1-2) to explain this concept.
Step 2
Exploring Idioms: Crack the Code
10 minutes
Examples: Present several common idioms using the Idioms Slide Deck (Slide 3-6). For each idiom, ask students: * 'What do you think it literally means?' * 'What do you think it really means?' 2. Discussion: Facilitate a brief discussion for each idiom, providing the correct figurative meaning and a simple example of how to use it in a sentence.
Step 3
Game Activity: Idiom Match-Up Challenge!
10 minutes
Distribute: Hand out the idiom and meaning cards from the Idiom Match-Up Challenge to each group. 2. Play: Instruct students to work together to match each idiom card with its correct meaning card. 3. Support: Circulate among groups, offering support and clarifying any misunderstandings. Encourage discussion about why certain matches are correct.
Step 4
Wrap-up: Quick Check
5 minutes
Review: Briefly go over the answers to the Idiom Match-Up Challenge as a group, using the Idiom Match-Up Answer Key. 2. Recap: Ask students to share one new idiom they learned or found interesting. 3. Reinforce: Remind students that idioms are fun and make our language colorful, and they'll start noticing them everywhere!
Slide Deck
Spill The Beans: Idioms!
Understanding tricky phrases!
Ever heard someone say something that confused you?
Welcome students and introduce the topic of idioms. Ask if they've ever heard a phrase that made no sense literally.
What's an Idiom?
An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the individual words.
Think of it like a secret code our language uses!
Explain that idioms are special phrases where the words together mean something different from what they literally say. Give a simple example like 'It's raining cats and dogs.'
Idiom Example 1: Spill the Beans
Literal meaning: To accidentally knock over a container of beans.
Figurative meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: "Don't spill the beans about the surprise party!"
Present the idiom 'Spill the beans'. Ask students what they think it literally means, then what it really means. Provide context.
Idiom Example 2: Bite Your Tongue
Literal meaning: To actually bite your tongue.
Figurative meaning: To stop yourself from saying something you shouldn't.
Example: "I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing during the serious play."
Present 'Bite your tongue'. Discuss literal vs. figurative meanings.
Idiom Example 3: Cost an Arm and a Leg
Literal meaning: To pay with your actual arm and leg.
Figurative meaning: To be very expensive.
Example: "That new video game cost an arm and a leg!"
Present 'Cost an arm and a leg'. Discuss literal vs. figurative meanings.
Idiom Example 4: Under the Weather
Literal meaning: To be physically underneath a storm.
Figurative meaning: To feel sick or unwell.
Example: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I'm staying home."
Present 'Under the weather'. Discuss literal vs. figurative meanings.
Game
Idiom Match-Up Challenge!
Instructions:
Cut out all the idiom cards and meaning cards below.
Mix them up!
Work together to match each idiom with its correct figurative meaning.
