Lesson Plan
Figurative Fun Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify and explain the meaning of similes, metaphors, and personification, and apply these devices in their own writing to create vivid imagery.
Understanding figurative language helps students appreciate the richness of language in literature and empowers them to make their own writing more engaging and descriptive, bringing their ideas to life for readers.
Audience
5th Grade Small Group
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive instruction, collaborative games, and guided writing practice.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Language's Magic Mirror Slide Deck, Figurative Language Charades, Sparkle Your Sentences Worksheet, Markers or pens, and Paper for notes
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Figurative Fun Lesson Plan and all generated materials (Language's Magic Mirror Slide Deck, Figurative Language Charades, Sparkle Your Sentences Worksheet).
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for the slide deck.
- Print or prepare to display the Sparkle Your Sentences Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare slips of paper with examples of similes, metaphors, and personification for the Figurative Language Charades game, or have students generate them.
Step 1
Introduction: What's the Magic Word?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "Have you ever read something that made you really see what the author was talking about? Or felt like an object in a story had feelings? Today, we're going to dive into 'Word Wizardry' and learn how writers make their words sparkle!"
- Introduce the concept of figurative language as a way to make writing more interesting and imaginative, rather than literal.
- Briefly mention similes, metaphors, and personification as the three types we'll explore.
Step 2
Exploring Figurative Language
10 minutes
- Present the Language's Magic Mirror Slide Deck to introduce each type of figurative language: simile, metaphor, and personification.
- For each type, provide clear definitions and simple, grade-appropriate examples.
- Engage students with questions like: "What two things are being compared here?" or "What human quality is given to this object?"
- Encourage students to share their initial thoughts and ask clarifying questions.
Step 3
Figurative Fun with Charades!
8 minutes
- Explain the rules for Figurative Language Charades.
- Divide students into two small teams (if applicable for your group size, or play as a whole group with volunteers).
- Have students act out or describe the figurative language on their slips without saying the key comparison words (like 'as' or 'like').
- The other team guesses the figurative language and identifies if it's a simile, metaphor, or personification.
- Facilitate the game, providing hints or guiding questions as needed to ensure engagement and understanding.
Step 4
Sparkle Your Sentences Practice
5 minutes
- Distribute the Sparkle Your Sentences Worksheet.
- Explain that students will be revising simple sentences by adding similes, metaphors, or personification.
- Work through one example together as a group, modeling how to transform a basic sentence into a more vivid one using figurative language.
- Allow students to begin working on the worksheet independently or collaboratively within the small group, providing support and feedback.
Step 5
Wrap-up & Reflection
2 minutes
- Bring the group back together.
- Ask students to share one new thing they learned or one example of figurative language they created.
- Conclude by emphasizing how figurative language helps writers paint pictures with words and makes reading more exciting.
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Slide Deck
Language's Magic Mirror
Making Words Sparkle!
Today, we'll learn how to add magic to our writing using special language tricks!
Welcome students and introduce the idea of 'word magic.' Explain that figurative language helps writers make their words more interesting and create clearer pictures in the reader's mind.
What is Figurative Language?
It's language that goes beyond the literal!
- Literal: Saying exactly what you mean.
- Figurative: Using words in an imaginative way to create a special effect or meaning.
It helps writers:
- Create vivid pictures in your mind.
- Make writing more interesting and exciting.
- Add deeper meaning to their stories.
Explain that figurative language isn't meant to be taken literally. It's like using words to paint a picture or create a feeling. Give a simple non-example like, 'The cat is literally sleeping.' then a figurative example like, 'The cat slept like a furry, purring cloud.'
Simile: Like or As
A simile compares two different things using the words "like" or "as."
It helps us see similarities between two unlike things.
Examples:
- The runner was as fast as a cheetah.
- Her smile shone like the sun.
- The baby cried like a siren.
Define simile and emphasize the use of 'like' or 'as'. Provide a few diverse examples and ask students to identify the two things being compared and what the comparison tells us.
Metaphor: Is or Was
A metaphor compares two different things by saying one thing "is" or "was" another.
It creates a stronger, more direct comparison.
Examples:
- The classroom was a zoo.
- My brother is a couch potato.
- The test was a breeze.
Define metaphor and highlight that it directly states one thing is another, without 'like' or 'as'. Provide examples and discuss the implied comparison.
Personification: Giving Life to Things
Personification gives human qualities or actions to inanimate objects or animals.
It makes non-human things seem alive and relatable.
Examples:
- The wind whispered secrets through the trees.
- The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up.
- The stars winked in the night sky.
Define personification as giving human qualities to non-human things. Give clear examples and ask students to identify the human action/quality given to the object.
Quick Check!
Can you remember the difference?
- Simile: Compares using ____ or ____.
- Metaphor: Says one thing ____ another.
- Personification: Gives human qualities to _______ things.
Get ready to put your new skills to the test!
Quick review slide. Ask students to share an example of each type of figurative language from their own minds or from something they've read.
Game
Figurative Language Charades!
How to Play:
- Preparation: Cut out the example strips below. Fold them and place them in a hat or bag.
- Teams: Divide your group into two small teams.
- Round Start: A player from Team A picks a slip of paper without showing it to their teammates.
- Action! The player must act out or describe the figurative language on the slip. They CANNOT use the words "like," "as," "is," or "was," or the exact words on the slip.
- Guessing: Team A tries to guess the figurative language. Once they guess the phrase correctly, they must also identify if it is a simile, metaphor, or personification.
- Scoring: If Team A guesses both correctly within 60 seconds, they get a point. If they can't, Team B gets a chance to steal.
- Next Turn: A player from Team B takes their turn.
- Winning: The team with the most points after all slips are used wins!
Game Slips (Cut these out!)
Slip 1
Figurative Language: As hungry as a bear
Type: Simile
Slip 2
Figurative Language: The alarm clock screamed at me.
Type: Personification
Slip 3
Figurative Language: The classroom was a zoo.
Type: Metaphor
Slip 4
Figurative Language: My bed is a cloud.
Type: Metaphor
Slip 5
Figurative Language: The leaves danced in the wind.
Type: Personification
Slip 6
Figurative Language: He eats like a pig.
Type: Simile
Slip 7
Figurative Language: The sun smiled down on us.
Type: Personification
Slip 8
Figurative Language: Her tears were a river.
Type: Metaphor
Slip 9
Figurative Language: Quiet as a mouse.
Type: Simile
Slip 10
Figurative Language: The car groaned as it went up the hill.
Type: Personification
Slip 11
Figurative Language: The snow was a white blanket.
Type: Metaphor
Slip 12
Figurative Language: He is as tall as a giraffe.
Type: Simile
Slip 13
Figurative Language: The flowers begged for water.
Type: Personification
Slip 14
Figurative Language: The world is a stage.
Type: Metaphor
Slip 15
Figurative Language: Brave like a lion.
Type: Simile
Worksheet
Sparkle Your Sentences: Figurative Language Practice
Directions: Read each simple sentence below. Then, rewrite it using either a simile, a metaphor, or personification to make it more exciting and descriptive! Don't forget to identify which type of figurative language you used.
Example:
Original Sentence: The sun was bright.
Your Sparkled Sentence: The sun was a giant spotlight in the sky, shining down on everything. (Metaphor)
Practice Sentences:
1. Original Sentence: The boy ran fast.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
2. Original Sentence: The clouds were white.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
3. Original Sentence: The wind blew hard.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
4. Original Sentence: The cat stretched.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
5. Original Sentence: The librarian was busy.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
6. Original Sentence: The music was loud.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
7. Original Sentence: The old house looked scary.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
8. Original Sentence: The students were quiet.
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
Challenge! Write two of your own sentences, then sparkle them up using different types of figurative language!
9. Original Sentence:
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
10. Original Sentence:
Your Sparkled Sentence:
Type of Figurative Language:
Answer Key
Sparkle Your Sentences: Answer Key
Note: Student answers may vary. The examples below demonstrate how similes, metaphors, or personification can be used to "sparkle" each sentence. Encourage creativity and logical connections!
1. Original Sentence: The boy ran fast.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The boy ran like a blur down the field. (Simile)
Alternative: The boy was a rocket, zooming past everyone. (Metaphor)
2. Original Sentence: The clouds were white.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The clouds floated in the sky like fluffy cotton balls. (Simile)
Alternative: The clouds were giant sheep grazing across the blue pasture. (Metaphor)
3. Original Sentence: The wind blew hard.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The wind howled a fierce song through the valley. (Personification)
Alternative: The wind screamed as it tore through the trees. (Personification)
4. Original Sentence: The cat stretched.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The cat stretched like a long, lazy ribbon. (Simile)
Alternative: The cat unfurled herself like a spring, ready to pounce. (Simile)
5. Original Sentence: The librarian was busy.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The librarian was a whirlwind of activity, organizing books and helping students. (Metaphor)
Alternative: The librarian raced around the room like a tireless bee. (Simile)
6. Original Sentence: The music was loud.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The music attacked my ears with its booming bass. (Personification)
Alternative: The music was a roaring lion in the concert hall. (Metaphor)
7. Original Sentence: The old house looked scary.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The old house gared menacingly with its broken windows. (Personification)
Alternative: The old house was a monster lurking in the shadows. (Metaphor)
8. Original Sentence: The students were quiet.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The students were as quiet as mice during the test. (Simile)
Alternative: The students were statues, completely motionless and silent. (Metaphor)
Challenge! Write two of your own sentences, then sparkle them up using different types of figurative language!
9. Original Sentence: The rain fell.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The rain danced lightly on the windowpane. (Personification)
10. Original Sentence: The baby laughed.
Example Sparkled Sentence: The baby's laugh was like sunshine on a cloudy day. (Simile)