• 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 leaves danced in the autumn breeze. (simile / metaphor / personification) → personificationPrompt: 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 was hard and cold. / She never spoke.) → She was strong and dependable.Prompt: A metaphor is not literally true.
3. Which kind of figurative language is this? My brother is a couch potato. (simile / metaphor / personification) → metaphorPrompt: Does it use 'like' or 'as' to compare?

• 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? "Actions speak louder than words." (Talking is better than doing. / Be very quiet. / Shouting is better than whispering. / What you do matters more than what you say.) → What you do matters more than what you say.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. / Birds wake up early. / You should eat worms. / Being late is fine.) → People who start early often succeed.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 8 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? "Don't let the cat out of the bag." (Don't tell the secret. / Don't be scared. / Keep the pet indoors. / Don't go shopping.) → Don't tell the secret.Prompt: An idiom doesn't mean exactly what the words say.
2. What does this idiom or saying mean? "You hit the nail on the head." (You said exactly the right thing. / You are good at building. / You made a mistake. / You hurt your hand.) → You said exactly the right thing.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.