Using Figurative Language to Shape Meaning and Style

The students will be able to identify different types of figurative language in a story and explain how the author uses figurative language to shape the meaning and style of the story. 

Duration
1-2 hours
Lesson Type
Traditional Lesson

Essential Question

Why is it important to be able to identify figurative language within a story? 

Grade(s):

  • 3
  • 4

Subject(s):

Recommended Technology:

-Computer 
-Smart board 

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Story that contains multiple examples of figurative language
  • Markers/colored pencils
  • Slips of paper with examples of figurative language on them

Lesson Progression

The teacher will explain that the lesson today will cover how authors use idioms, metaphors, and personification to shape meaning and style in a story.

Sample stories:

  1. Review what idioms, metaphor, and personification mean, and provide examples of each.
  2. Ask students why they think these are important, and what do they bring to a story.
  3. Divide students into groups, and have them work on identifying figurative language. Give students multiple examples on slips of paper, and have them write down which figurative language it is. Have the students share their findings after giving them a few minutes to work in their groups.
  4. Once they have shared, the teacher will read a story and stop every so often to allow the students to point out the figurative language in the story. Once the teacher has read the story, the students will go back through the story and write down the figurative language they saw.
  5. The students will then write why they felt these were important to the story, and how the author brought meaning and style to the story by using figurative language.
  6. Once the students have done this, they will then draw a picture by each example they wrote down from the story that will help them better understand.
  7. The teacher should give time for the students to share the examples they found and the images that they drew to go along with their examples.

Gettin' Through Thursday

André dreads Thursdays. Thursday is the day before Mama gets paid at work each week — it's the day when money is tight and spirits are low for André and his older brother and sister.

As report card day approaches, André anticipates making the honor roll, and Mama said she'd throw a royal party for just such an event. But André can't believe his eyes when he looks at the calendar and sees that report card day falls on the worst possible day of the week — a Thursday.

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Gettin' Through Thursday- Read-aloud

If you are unable to find Gettin' Through Thursday here is a link to a read-aloud of the story.

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Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin

It's 1906 and the court dancers in the Cambodian royal palace are abuzz with news of a trip to France for the Colonial Exhibition. Little Sap, a poor country girl who joined the dance troupe to give her family a better life, is apprehensive about traveling to a faraway land.

In Paris the artist Auguste Rodin is captivated by the classical beauty of Cambodian dance. He insists on sketching the dancers, especially Little Sap. As Rodin's pencil sweeps across his paper, Little Sap's worries melt away. She realizes how much she has grown as a dancer and how far she has come in fulfilling her special duty to her family.

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Assessments

The teacher will assess the students by the examples they found of figurative language in the story that was read, and the explanation of how the author used the figurative language to shape the meaning and style of the story. The students will also be assessed on their drawings that go along with their examples.