Language Arts · Grade 5

Active learning ideas

Figurative Language: Personification & Idioms

Active learning helps students grasp figurative language because movement and collaboration build concrete understanding of abstract concepts like personification and idioms. When students act out examples or discuss interpretations, they move beyond memorization to internalize how figurative language shapes meaning and tone in texts.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.5.A

• 20–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Personification Brainstorm

Students think of three objects and pair up to give them human actions, like 'the clock raced.' Share one example per pair with the class, discussing why it works. Record class favorites on chart paper.

Analyze how personification brings inanimate objects to life in writing.

Facilitation Tip

During the Role-Play Skits, assign roles so each student acts out a literal interpretation of an idiom or personification first, then the figurative version for contrast.

What to look for

Provide students with two sentences. One uses personification (e.g., 'The old house groaned under the weight of the snow'). The other uses an idiom (e.g., 'It's raining cats and dogs'). Ask students to identify which is which and explain the meaning of the figurative language used in each.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Carousel Brainstorm
• 30 min · Small Groups

Idiom Matching Game: Small Group Relay

Prepare cards with idioms on one set and meanings on another. Groups race to match five pairs correctly, then use one in a sentence. Rotate roles for recorder and matcher.

Explain how idioms reflect the culture of the people who use them.

What to look for

Present students with a list of common idioms (e.g., 'bite the bullet', 'piece of cake', 'spill the beans'). Ask them to choose three and write a sentence for each, demonstrating correct usage in context. Review sentences for accuracy of meaning and grammatical correctness.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 03

• Gallery Walk
• 35 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Student-Created Examples

Students write one personification and one idiom sentence on sticky notes, post around room. Groups walk, vote on favorites, and explain choices in whole-class debrief.

Construct a sentence using an idiom correctly in context.

What to look for

Ask students: 'Think of an object in our classroom. How could you use personification to describe it as if it had feelings or actions?' Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to share their creative descriptions and explain the human qualities they assigned.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Activity 04

• Carousel Brainstorm
• 40 min · Small Groups

Role-Play Skits: Figurative Fun

In small groups, create 1-minute skits using three idioms or personifications. Perform for class, who guesses the figurative elements and literal meanings.

Analyze how personification brings inanimate objects to life in writing.

What to look for

Provide students with two sentences. One uses personification (e.g., 'The old house groaned under the weight of the snow'). The other uses an idiom (e.g., 'It's raining cats and dogs'). Ask students to identify which is which and explain the meaning of the figurative language used in each.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Experienced teachers approach figurative language by embedding it in playful, low-stakes activities that require students to explain their reasoning aloud. Avoid overloading lessons with too many terms at once instead, focus on repeated exposure to a few examples in varied contexts. Research shows that repeated practice with feedback, especially in small groups, improves retention and application more than worksheets or isolated drills.

Students will confidently identify and apply personification and idioms in their own writing and discussion. They will articulate the difference between literal and figurative meanings, and use peer feedback to refine their examples for accuracy and creativity.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Personification Brainstorm, watch for students who describe comparisons instead of attributing human traits to non-humans.

  Listen for phrases like 'the tree danced' or 'the clock sighed,' and gently ask, 'What human action or feeling is the tree doing here?' to redirect.

• During Idiom Matching Game, watch for students who assume idioms make sense literally.

  After matching, ask groups to explain why the idiom does not mean what it says, using the context clues from their sentences.

• During Gallery Walk, watch for students who use figurative language without clear human traits or cultural context.

  Ask peers to check examples for clarity: 'Does this personification show a human action or feeling? Does this idiom make sense in this context?'

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share
• Carousel Brainstorm
• Gallery Walk