Similes and Metaphors Lesson Plan: Craft and Structure

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Similes and Metaphors Lesson Plan.

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Similes and Metaphors, and addresses the standard of interpreting the meaning of language in context. This standard also encompasses the essential literacy skill of demonstrating understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

  • Display these two statements:

          Jada is kind.  

          Jada has a heart of gold.

  • Ask students how the sentences are alike and different. Which can they picture in their mind? Why are they able to picture it?  

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read aloud the description on the Similes and Metaphors topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Have students read one of the three Related Readings. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Students take the Similes and Metaphors Challenge and Quiz, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about similes and metaphors while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Record and illustrate a poem that shows the answer to this question: How can you use similes and metaphors to describe your favorite book or movie character?
  • Make-a-Map: In the center of a spider map, identify your favorite season then add similes and metaphors to describe seasonal weather and activities. 
  • Creative Coding: Code a newscast that uses a simile or metaphor in the headline.  
  • Primary Source: Read an 1839 poem, then analyze how similes and metaphors impact its meaning.

More to Explore

Writing Unit: Continue to build understanding around craft and structure by exploring more BrainPOP writing topics.

Teacher Support Resources:

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  3-5, 6-8, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.5, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.5, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.5, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1