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

1. What does this idiom or saying mean? "The early bird catches the worm." (You should eat worms. / Being late is fine. / People who start early often succeed. / Birds wake up early.) → People who start early often succeed.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.
2. Which kind of figurative language is this? The lake was like a mirror. (simile / metaphor / personification) → similePrompt: Does it use 'like' or 'as' to compare?
3. What does this metaphor mean? The classroom was a zoo after lunch. (It was empty. / It was noisy and wild. / There were animals in it. / It was very clean.) → It was noisy and wild.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: Literal or figurative meaning?. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Is the phrase in capitals used literally or figuratively? She has A HEART OF GOLD.
• Step 1: Literal language means exactly what it says; figurative language uses words beyond their normal meaning for effect.
• Step 2: It means she is very kind.
• Step 3: So the answer is: figurative
• Answer: figurative
• 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. Is the phrase in capitals used literally or figuratively? The chef CUT the onions finely. (literal / figurative) → literalPrompt: Could this really, physically happen as written?
2. What does the figurative phrase suggest? "She was on thin ice with her teacher." What does this suggest? (she was close to being in trouble / she was cold / she was very popular / she was ice-skating) → she was close to being in troublePrompt: Picture the literal image. What feeling or idea does it create?

• 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 the figurative phrase suggest? "Her plan backfired." What does this mean? (it was delayed / it had the opposite effect to what she intended / it worked perfectly / it caught fire) → it had the opposite effect to what she intendedPrompt: Picture the literal image. What feeling or idea does it create?
2. Is the phrase in capitals used literally or figuratively? We heard AN OWL hooting in the woods. (literal / figurative) → literalPrompt: Could this really, physically happen as written?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-8.