Okay, let me start off by saying I feel like I could have made this post so much better by taking more pictures! I wasn’t even planning on blogging about my week, but I feel like we did some really neat things for our introduction to figurative language unit and I wanted to share. BUT since I wasn’t even thinking about blogging, I did an awful job with taking example pictures! Just overlook the lack of pictures and concentrate on the content and I promise I’ll do better next time 🙂
So this past week was our first week back from Christmas break and I always use this time to teach figurative language. We start our second novel study on Tuck Everlasting at the end of January and I always like to have already taught figurative language because there are so many examples in the novel that the kids can point out.
At the beginning of the week, I introduced this anchor chart:
We covered simile/metaphor, alliteration, and personification this week. Next week we will talk about hyperbole, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, and allusion while still practicing and reviewing the first four elements of figurative language.
On Monday we discussed similes and metaphors:
I had originally planned to do this using the snowball activity, but that didn’t work. I changed it at the last minute to a variation of “Sticky Stroll”. You can read more about Sticky Strolls here, but this time I had the kids partner up and work/travel around the room. At each stop, they had to write each statement, identify the statement as a simile or metaphor, and then tell what it meant.
Not only were the kids engaged by the movement that this activity creates, but they were also collaborating with groups and working together to figure out each problem. I really loved this activity!
On Tuesday we moved onto alliteration. Alliteration is one of the easiest types of figurative language to understand, and it’s also one of the most fun! There’s so much you can do with alliteration. I introduced this skill with a little game of Family Feud. My kids LOVED these family feud games! It was the perfect way to start the lesson. After we finished the game, I gave each student a huge sheet of construction paper and instructed them to write down a sentence that contained alliteration using their name.
For personification I used another family feud game because it was such a hit the previous day. After we finished that round, I used a few sheets from this unit. I did a horrible job with pictures from this day obviously!
Then on Friday, to wrap everything up, we created “SMAP” Google Presentations. Each student had to create a 5 slides Google Presentation.
Slide 1: Title Slide
Slide 2: Similes
Slide 3: Metaphors
Slide 4: Alliteration
Slide 5: Personification
Each slide had to contain 5 sentences with the skill. So for example, on slide 3 (metaphors) the students had to write five sentences that contained examples of alliteration. I love using Google presentations because not only is it a great way to practice using skills and strategies, but the kids are also learning how to create a digital presentation and edit the format of the slides and change the font and colors and backgrounds. Tons of opportunity for technology practice!
So that was our first week of figurative language. Let me know if you want to hear about week 2 filled with onomatopoeia, oxymoron, allusion, and hyperbole. 🙂
I would love to hear about what you're doing for the next week! Also, do you have the resource with all of the different smilies and metaphors that you did for day one? I would love to do this with my kiddos tomorrow but don't know if I have enough time 🙁
I can't wait to hear about your second week! This is just what I was looking for!!
Just posted part 2 🙂 lifeinfifthgrade.com/2019/01/okay-let-me-start-off-by-saying-i-feel.html
Amazing ideas! Thank you for sharing! 😁
Yes, please share. You have the most amazing ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I just posted part 2 🙂 lifeinfifthgrade.com/2019/01/okay-let-me-start-off-by-saying-i-feel.html
I would love any resources you have available to share! I love this idea and how the kids are up and moving and engaged! Thank you so much! excited for week 2!! Do you tie this into your novel?
Thank you! Here's week 2. We do work on figurative with Tuck Everlasting. I'll try and share how I incorporate it soon 🙂 lifeinfifthgrade.com/2019/01/okay-let-me-start-off-by-saying-i-feel.html
Are you planning on doing a part 2? This is absolutely wonderful!
Here's part 2 🙂 lifeinfifthgrade.com/2019/01/okay-let-me-start-off-by-saying-i-feel.html
Please share the week 2!!
Here's part 2 🙂 lifeinfifthgrade.com/2019/01/okay-let-me-start-off-by-saying-i-feel.html
As a first year teacher in fifth grade (after 15 years in high school), I found your week 1 to be a fun, engaging way to teach Figurative Language. PLEASE post week 2!!
Here's part 2 🙂 lifeinfifthgrade.com/2019/01/okay-let-me-start-off-by-saying-i-feel.html
What activity do you do for idioms? I did the snowball fight with hyperboles last week and kids loved it!