Why do we teach figurative language?
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More clearly visualise a setting.
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Understand the motives and appearance of a character.
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Be caught up in the action of a story.
Use Videos to Help Introduce Figurative Language
Similes in Pop Culture (for kids) – Running Time: 6.49
“Similes and Metaphors” by The Bazillions – Running Time: 2.59
Figurative Language Explained – Running Time: 1.58
Use Mentor Texts to Explore Figurative Language
From http://cupofteateaching.blogspot.com/
- ‘…my breath huffed little ghosts while high above sailed the sky, a ship of shivering stars.’
- ‘…the moon glinting between the trees like a curved splinter of glass.’
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The New Zealand Schools Journals feature fantastic poems that are often overlooked as we focus on the articles and fictional stories in our reading programme. These poems are a great source of figurative language and could be used as mentor texts for figurative language hunts! One great aspect of the School Journals is that from 2013, they are available as PDFs.
Here are some of my favourites poems that feature figurative language:
- School Journal Level 2 May 2019 – The Cave (Metaphor, Simile, Personification)
- School Journal Level 3 November 2019 – Summer Sounds (Metaphor, Alliteration, Assonance)
- School Journal Level 4 June 2018 – Giving My Father Frights (Similes and Metaphors)
- School Journal Level 4 November 2017 – My Sister and I (Similes)
My Figurative Language Activities
Go paperless with our Google Slides-ready figurative language digital writing resource! These activities feature 48 interactive slides for students to work through. Due to their mostly open-ended nature, many slides can be used multiple times! Develop your students’ ability to use devices such as alliteration, similes, metaphors, idioms, personification, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, synonyms and antonyms. Click here to see our Figurative Language Digital Task Cards.
Our Figurative Language Activities feature activity sheets, task cards and posters. These activities and displays will ensure retention of each skill while encouraging the use of figurative elements in your students’ writing. Click here to see our Figurative Language Activities.
Independent Literacy Activities
The purpose of our Independent Literacy Activities resources is to provide activities for your students to complete while you are working with other groups. choices are provided to give your students agency, and a range of activities are provided so students can practice a variety of important literacy skills. Activities include reading, writing prompts, figurative language and other word work activities, and a range of creative challenges that require higher-order thinking.
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Onwards and upwards,