Figurative Language

At the end of this unit, students will be able to...

a. Understand and write with a simile.

b. Understand metaphor.

c. Evaluate the effect of a metaphor.

d. Understand and write with an extended metaphor.

e. Understand and write with personification.

Yes

Informal Evaluations-Teacher will observe during discussions, questioning, class readings, and guided practice. During guided practice, the teacher will observe students locating examples of similes, metaphors, and personification from different poems.

Independent Activities-Students will have the opportunity to write their own examples of similes, metaphors, and personification. Students will need to explain the purpose/intent of their examples and explain what effect their figurative language could have on a writing.

End of Unit Exam-Students will that an exam over figurative language where they will have to locate examples of each in a writing and then write examples of their own.

80%

The students will:

1.  Read a series of poems about nature.

2.  Understand what a "simile" is.   A simile uses the words like or as to compare two essentially unlike things.

3.  Read through a poem and find examples of similes. (The Magnificent Bull)   

4.  Locate examples of similes, and discuss with the class what those similes were trying to say.

5.  Write five to ten similes on your own. 

6.  Understand a second type of figurative language called a metaphor. A metaphor suggests that two essentially unlike things have something in common.

7.  Read a poem and determine the use of metaphors. (Fog)

8.  Locate examples of metaphors.  Discuss with the class what those metaphors are. 

9.  Write a few examples of metaphors on your own. Remember that sometimes a poet/writer will use the same metaphor throughout a writing, that is referred to as an extended metaphor.

10.  Understand a third type of figurative language called personification.  Personification is when unhuman objects are shown to have human-like characteristics.

11.  Read a poem in which there are examples of personification and locate those. (Loo-Wit)

12.  Locate examples of personification.   Discuss with the class what those examples of personification are. 

13.  Write a few examples of personification on your own.

14.  Take an exam over figurative language where you will have to locate examples of each in a writing and then write examples of your own.

The teacher will:

1. Begin with a discussion of the term "figurative language." Using this term in writing is a way of speaking meant to convey a feeling or create a certain effect. An example might be "The car died." The car can't really die. Using figurative language is when a writer says one thing, but means another.

2. As a class, students will read a series of poems about nature. The poets have observed their subjects closely and then used figurative language to describe them. (Suggested poems: The Magnificent Bull, Fog, and Loo-Wit.)

3. The first type of figurative language that should be discussed is what a "simile" is. A simile uses the words like or as to compare two essentially unlike things. Students should read through a poem and find examples of similes. (The Magnificent Bull) Once students locate examples of similes, there should be a class discussion as to what those similes were trying to say. Students should now try to write five to ten similes on their own. Teacher may need to help with topics.

4. A second type of figurative language is a metaphor. A metaphor suggests that two essentially unlike things have something in common. Students should read a poem and determine the use of metaphors. (Fog) Once students locate examples of metaphors, there should be a class discussion as to what those metaphors were comparing. Students should now try to write a few examples of metaphors on their own. Teacher may need to help with topics. Teacher should also point out that sometimes a poet/writer will use the same metaphor throughout a writing, that is referred to as an extended metaphor.

5. A third type of figurative language is the use of personification. Personification is when unhuman objects are shown to have human-like characteristics. Students should read a poem in which there are examples of personification and locate those. (Loo-Wit) There should be a class discussion about each example of personification located. Students should now try to write a few examples of personification of their own. Teacher may need to help with examples of topics.

6. Students will take an exam over figurative language where they will have to locate examples of each in a writing and then write examples of their own.

Prentice Hall Literature "Bronze"

Class Posters

Tutoring

 Additional Exercises

 Available

Searching of figurative language in AR books.

More Examples

 Tutoring/Peer Coaching

 Modified Exam