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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? The road was a ribbon of moonlight. (It was very dangerous. / It was made of cloth. / It shone and wound into the distance. / It was blocked.) → It shone and wound into the distance.Prompt: A metaphor is not literally true.
  3. Which kind of figurative language is this? The classroom was a zoo after lunch. (simile / metaphor / personification) → metaphorPrompt: 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? "It's raining cats and dogs." (Animals are falling from the sky. / Pets don't like rain. / It's raining very heavily. / 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? "He's got cold feet." (He is nervous and wants to back out. / His feet are freezing. / He has lost his shoes. / He is feeling brave.) → He is nervous and wants to back out.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? "The early bird catches the worm." (Birds wake up early. / Being late is fine. / You should eat worms. / People who start early often succeed.) → People who start early often succeed.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.

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? "You hit the nail on the head."

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

  2. Question 2

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "Actions speak louder than words."

    • A. Be very quiet.
    • B. Talking is better than doing.
    • C. What you do matters more than what you say.
    • D. Shouting is better than whispering.

  3. Question 3

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "That costs an arm and a leg."

    • A. It hurts a lot.
    • B. It's very expensive.
    • C. It's very cheap.
    • D. It's free.

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "Once in a blue moon."

    • A. Every night.
    • B. When the moon is blue.
    • C. Every month.
    • D. Very rarely.

  7. Question 7

    What does this idiom or saying mean? "Don't let the cat out of the bag."

    • A. Don't go shopping.
    • B. Keep the pet indoors.
    • C. Don't tell the secret.
    • D. Don't be scared.

  8. Question 8

    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.

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Answer key: Idioms and proverbs

  1. 1. D. You said exactly the right thing.

  2. 2. C. What you do matters more than what you say.

  3. 3. B. It's very expensive.

  4. 4. D. I feel a bit ill.

  5. 5. B. It's raining very heavily.

  6. 6. D. Very rarely.

  7. 7. C. Don't tell the secret.

  8. 8. C. It's very easy.