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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes

Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say

Vocabulary

CCSS L.3.5.ACCSS RL.3.4England: Y3/4 Reading (figurative language)England: Y4 Vocabulary (idioms)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say.

  • 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: One word, two meanings (bat, duck, ring); Shades of meaning

Leads to: Words from myths (a Herculean task, an Achilles' heel); Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?

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 (One word, two meanings (bat, duck, ring); Shades of meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What does the word mean in THIS sentence? The fly buzzed around the room. (a small insect / to move through the air) → a small insectPrompt: Read the whole sentence, not just the word.
  2. Which word is the STRONGEST? big, huge, gigantic (big / huge / gigantic) → giganticPrompt: These words mean nearly the same thing but some are stronger.
  3. Which sentence uses the word with this meaning: fly (an insect)? (Planes fly very high. / A fly landed on my sandwich.) → A fly landed on my sandwich.Prompt: Read both sentences carefully.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say. 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: Is this sentence literal or figurative? I ate a piece of cake at the party.
  • Step 1: Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language uses words in a different way to make a point.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: literal: it means exactly what it says
  • Answer: literal: it means exactly what it says
  • 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. Is this sentence literal or figurative? Keep an eye on your little sister. (literal: it means exactly what it says / figurative: it means something different) → figurative: it means something differentPrompt: Picture exactly what the words say. Could it really happen?
  2. Read the sentence. My little sister is a chatterbox. What does that mean? (She likes boxes. / She talks a lot. / She owns a box. / She is very quiet.) → She talks a lot.Prompt: The words do not mean exactly what they 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. Is this sentence literal or figurative? The rabbit has long, soft ears. (literal: it means exactly what it says / figurative: it means something different) → literal: it means exactly what it saysPrompt: Picture exactly what the words say. Could it really happen?
  2. Read the sentence. "I'm all ears," said Dad. "Tell me about your day." What does "all ears" mean? (cannot hear / has big ears / ready to listen carefully / wants to sleep) → ready to listen carefullyPrompt: The words do not mean exactly what they 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: One word, two meanings (bat, duck, ring).
  • 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: Words from myths (a Herculean task, an Achilles' heel); Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?.
  • 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-3.

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

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Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence literal or figurative? The gold coin was heavy.

    • A. literal: it means exactly what it says
    • B. figurative: it means something different

  2. Question 2

    Read the sentence. My little sister is a chatterbox. What does that mean?

    • A. She owns a box.
    • B. She likes boxes.
    • C. She talks a lot.
    • D. She is very quiet.

  3. Question 3

    Is this sentence literal or figurative? I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

    • A. literal: it means exactly what it says
    • B. figurative: it means something different

  4. Question 4

    Read the sentence. After the long hike, I was dead on my feet. What does "dead on my feet" mean?

    • A. very hungry
    • B. very fast
    • C. extremely tired
    • D. asleep in bed

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence literal or figurative? Time flies when you're having fun.

    • A. literal: it means exactly what it says
    • B. figurative: it means something different

  6. Question 6

    Is this sentence literal or figurative? I ate a piece of cake at the party.

    • A. literal: it means exactly what it says
    • B. figurative: it means something different

  7. Question 7

    Read the sentence. Gran said, "Hold your horses! We'll leave in a minute." What does she mean?

    • A. Wait and be patient.
    • B. Hold on tightly.
    • C. Feed the horses.
    • D. Hurry up.

  8. Question 8

    Is this sentence literal or figurative? Break a leg in the show tonight!

    • A. literal: it means exactly what it says
    • B. figurative: it means something different

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Answer key: Literal or figurative? Phrases that don't mean what they say

  1. 1. A. literal: it means exactly what it says

  2. 2. C. She talks a lot.

  3. 3. B. figurative: it means something different

  4. 4. C. extremely tired

  5. 5. B. figurative: it means something different

  6. 6. A. literal: it means exactly what it says

  7. 7. A. Wait and be patient.

  8. 8. B. figurative: it means something different