• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Similes and metaphors). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which kind of figurative language is this? The sun smiled down on the picnic. (simile / metaphor / personification) → personificationPrompt: Does it use 'like' or 'as' to compare?
2. What does this metaphor mean? He has a heart of gold. (He is ill. / He is strong. / He is very rich. / He is very kind.) → He is very kind.Prompt: A metaphor is not literally true.
3. What does this metaphor mean? The road was a ribbon of moonlight. (It was blocked. / It was made of cloth. / It was very dangerous. / It shone and wound into the distance.) → It shone and wound into the distance.Prompt: A metaphor is not literally true.

• Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
• Share the objective: Idioms and proverbs. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: What does this idiom or saying mean? "It's a piece of cake."
• Step 1: Idioms are fixed expressions with a figurative meaning.
• Step 2: So the answer is: It's very easy.
• Answer: It's very easy.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. What does this idiom or saying mean? "It's raining cats and dogs." (It's raining very heavily. / Animals are falling from the sky. / Pets don't like rain. / It's a little bit wet.) → It's raining very heavily.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.
2. What does this idiom or saying mean? "It's a piece of cake." (It's a dessert. / It's very easy. / It's delicious. / It's very small.) → It's very easy.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. What does this idiom or saying mean? "Let's call it a day." (Let's stop working for now. / Let's give the day a name. / Let's phone a friend. / Let's start again.) → Let's stop working for now.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.
2. What does this idiom or saying mean? "I'm feeling under the weather." (I am standing in the rain. / I am cold. / I feel a bit ill. / I feel very happy.) → I feel a bit ill.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.