Here are some PowerPoint lessons to help students better understand figurative language. These lessons include definitions, examples, and practice problems. This is a great starting point for a figurative language unit. If you like this lesson, you may also be interested in my resources on poetic devices.
Figurative Language Lesson – This slide show presentation teaches students about simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and understatement. It includes ten practice problems after the lesson.
Figurative Language Lesson PowerPoint
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Figurative Language Lesson 2– Here is a revision of the figurative language lesson slideshow. This lesson includes definitions and examples of figurative language along with some tips. There is also a ten question practice activity at the end of the lesson.
Figurative Language Lesson 2 PowerPoint
Common Core State Standards Related to Figurative Language
Expand to View All Common Core State Standards Related to Figurative LanguageCCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4 – Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
ELA Standards: Literature
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)
ELA Standards: Language
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5a – Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5b – Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5a – Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5b – Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification) in context.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary, biblical, and mythological allusions) in context.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., hyperbole, paradox) in context and analyze their role in the text.
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Common Core Lesson and Unit Plans
Understanding Common Core State Standards
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Figurative Language Worksheets
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rebecca ilyas
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sundas
/ March 12, 2016this is awsome n most of all understandable
Mr. Ceasar
/ December 26, 2014Thanks for the brilliant ideas.
Mr. Morton
/ January 5, 2015You are most welcome. Thank you for visiting.
Suzanne L.
/ January 22, 2013Thank you for your great ideas! The concepts are straight forward and the students understand them fully.
Jessica A.
/ October 24, 2012I create many of my own worksheets, so I know how much time and effort goes into doing all of this. This is my first year teaching English, and I am pretty much doing it as a favor to the school. Your lessons have been such an enormous help to me. I like how you provide them in multiple formats which allow for easy adjustments for scaffolding. Again, thank you for doing this.
Mr. Morton
/ October 30, 2012Thanks for saying so. Best wishes!
Anita Clark
/ January 2, 2012I love this websites, I use the lesson and activities in my classroom all the time. The students really like them and are able to understand. thanks so much for the help
Mr. Morton
/ January 14, 2012Thank you for taking the time to comment. Your visits are appreciated.