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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Idioms and proverbs

Vocabulary

CCSS L.4.5.BCCSS L.5.5.BEngland: Y4/5 ReadingEngland: 11+ English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Idioms and proverbs.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Similes and metaphors

Leads to: Literal or figurative meaning?

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • 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 baby's skin was as soft as silk. (simile / metaphor / personification) → similePrompt: Does it use 'like' or 'as' to compare?
  2. What does this metaphor mean? She was a rock for her family. (She was strong and dependable. / She was heavy. / She never spoke. / She was hard and cold.) → She was strong and dependable.Prompt: A metaphor is not literally true.
  3. Which kind of figurative language is this? The old house groaned in the storm. (simile / metaphor / personification) → personificationPrompt: Does it use 'like' or 'as' to compare?

Hook · 5 min

  • 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.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • 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.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • 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? "Once in a blue moon." (When the moon is blue. / Every night. / Very rarely. / Every month.) → Very rarely.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.
  2. What does this idiom or saying mean? "The early bird catches the worm." (People who start early often succeed. / Being late is fine. / You should eat worms. / Birds wake up early.) → People who start early often succeed.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • 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? "That costs an arm and a leg." (It's free. / It's very cheap. / It's very expensive. / It hurts a lot.) → It's very expensive.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.
  2. What does this idiom or saying mean? "Let's call it a day." (Let's start again. / Let's phone a friend. / Let's stop working for now. / Let's give the day a name.) → Let's stop working for now.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Similes and metaphors.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Literal or figurative meaning?.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Idioms and proverbs

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "It's a piece of cake."

    • A. It's a dessert.
    • B. It's very small.
    • C. It's very easy.
    • D. It's delicious.

  2. Question 2

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "Break a leg!"

    • A. Go to hospital.
    • B. Be careful!
    • C. Good luck!
    • D. Hurry up!

  3. Question 3

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "I'm feeling under the weather."

    • A. I feel very happy.
    • B. I am standing in the rain.
    • C. I am cold.
    • D. I feel a bit ill.

  4. Question 4

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "The early bird catches the worm."

    • A. Being late is fine.
    • B. You should eat worms.
    • C. Birds wake up early.
    • D. People who start early often succeed.

  5. Question 5

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "He's got cold feet."

    • A. He has lost his shoes.
    • B. His feet are freezing.
    • C. He is feeling brave.
    • D. He is nervous and wants to back out.

  6. Question 6

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "You hit the nail on the head."

    • A. You made a mistake.
    • B. You said exactly the right thing.
    • C. You are good at building.
    • D. You hurt your hand.

  7. Question 7

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "It's raining cats and dogs."

    • A. It's raining very heavily.
    • B. Animals are falling from the sky.
    • C. It's a little bit wet.
    • D. Pets don't like rain.

  8. Question 8

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "Let's call it a day."

    • A. Let's give the day a name.
    • B. Let's stop working for now.
    • C. Let's phone a friend.
    • D. Let's start again.

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Answer key: Idioms and proverbs

  1. 1. C. It's very easy.

  2. 2. C. Good luck!

  3. 3. D. I feel a bit ill.

  4. 4. D. People who start early often succeed.

  5. 5. D. He is nervous and wants to back out.

  6. 6. B. You said exactly the right thing.

  7. 7. A. It's raining very heavily.

  8. 8. B. Let's stop working for now.