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Lesson Preview · Grades 3-5

Figurative Language Lesson

Skill: Figurative Language Poems

This lesson explains simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and understatement. Students learn these techniques and then practice identifying and distinguishing between them with a practice activity. This lesson is adaptable for grades 3-12.

Grades 3-5Grades 6-8Grades 9-12
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What is Figurative Language?
Language that we "figure" out...
  • Literal
  • Words mean what they say
  • EX: The bees in the garden were busy.
  • Figurative
  • Readers have to FIGURE out what is meant.
  • Ex: The students were as busy as bees.
  • Were the students working hard? We have to FIGURE it out.
Figurative Language Techniques
What This Lesson Covers...
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
  • Understatement
  • Let's look at each of these a little more closely...
Simile
Comparing two things using "like" or "as"
  • Examples
  • The metal twisted like a ribbon.
  • The puppy ran around the tiny bedroom like a tornado.
  • He drew a line as straight as an arrow.
BE CAREFUL!
Similes must compare two things.
  • Just using the word LIKE or ASdoes NOT make it a simile.
  • THESE ARE NOT SIMILES
  • I washed the dishes as she dried them.
  • I like tacos.
  • She looks like her mom.
Metaphor
Compares two things without using "like" or "as"
  • Examples
  • She has a stone heart.
  • All the world is a stage.
  • Books are doors to other worlds.
Personification
Giving human traits to things or ideas
  • Examples
  • The sunlight danced.
  • The flowers nodded their heads in the breeze.
  • I tried to stop playing it, but the game keeps calling me.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration for effect
  • Examples
  • I've told you a million times to clean your room.
  • She will kill me if she finds out that I ate her egg sandwich.
  • My house is a million miles from here.
Understatement
Making something smaller than it seems, minimizing it
  • Examples
  • After winning the championship, the coach said "Not bad."
  • "It's a bit warm," he said, standing in the middle of the Sahara desert.
  • Can I see you for a second?

Review

Shown after slides, one question at a time

Review
Her voice was sweet like honey.
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The speaker compares her voice to honey using the word "like."
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
The sun smiled down on the picnic.
  • Simile
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
  • Understatement
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The sun is given the ability to smile.
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
That joke was so funny that I almost died laughing.
  • Simile
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
  • Understatement
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The speaker is exaggerating the effects of the laughter.
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
The classroom was a zoo after the teacher left.
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The classroom is compared to a zoo without using the word "like" or "as."
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
The tornado destroyed the barn because it was a little windy last night.
  • Simile
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
  • Understatement
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The effects of the tornado are minimized as just a little wind.
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
The river sparkled like a silver ribbon.
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The river is compared to a ribbon using the word "like."
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
The moon peeked through the clouds to say goodnight.
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Hyperbole
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The moon is given the ability to say goodnight.
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
I'm so thirsty I could drink a river.
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Hyperbole
  • Understatement
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
The speaker is exaggerating how much he or she could drink.
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
She saw the fire in his eyes when he spoke about his plan.
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Understatement
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
His eyes are compared to a fire without using the word "like" or "as."
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)
Review
After the basement flooded to the ceiling, Jim agreed that they had gotten a bit of rain.
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Hyperbole
  • Understatement
Learn Why (shown after incorrect answer)
Jim is minimizing how much rain they got.
Optional Follow-up
How do you figure? (Why do you think your answer is correct?)