Activity 01
Inquiry Circle: The Symbol Suitcase
Bring in a suitcase of random objects (a key, a mirror, a wilted flower, a compass). In groups, students brainstorm what each object could symbolize in a story (e.g., a key = a secret or a new beginning) and present their 'symbolic map' to the class.
Analyze how a simple object can represent a universal human emotion.
Facilitation TipDuring The Symbol Suitcase, circulate and ask groups to justify their symbol choices by referencing the text’s mood or theme.
What to look forProvide students with a short poem excerpt containing a clear metaphor. Ask them to: 1. Identify the metaphor. 2. Explain what abstract idea it represents. 3. Write one sentence describing how it makes them feel.
AnalyzeEvaluateCreateSelf-ManagementSelf-Awareness
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Activity 02
Think-Pair-Share: Metaphor Makeover
Give students a list of literal sentences (e.g., 'He was very angry'). Pairs work to turn these into metaphors (e.g., 'He was a volcano ready to erupt'). They then discuss which metaphor is most effective and why.
Differentiate between a literal description and a metaphorical one.
Facilitation TipFor Metaphor Makeover, give students two minutes to compare their revised metaphor to the original with a partner before sharing with the class.
What to look forPresent two short poems, one using literal description and one using metaphor to describe a similar emotion (e.g., sadness). Ask students: 'How does the poet's choice of language affect your understanding of the feeling? Which approach is more powerful for conveying deep emotion, and why?'
UnderstandApplyAnalyzeSelf-AwarenessRelationship Skills
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Activity 03
Gallery Walk: Visual Metaphors
Display famous paintings or photographs. Students move around the room, writing 'metaphorical captions' for the images on sticky notes, focusing on what the elements of the picture might represent emotionally rather than just what they are.
Construct a metaphor to convey a specific feeling or idea.
Facilitation TipIn Visual Metaphors, provide sentence stems like 'This image shows ____ because ____' to guide students’ written explanations.
What to look forWrite a simple object on the board (e.g., 'a locked door'). Ask students to write down three different abstract feelings or ideas that this object could represent metaphorically, explaining their choices briefly.
UnderstandApplyAnalyzeCreateRelationship SkillsSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Start by modeling how to unpack a metaphor step-by-step, thinking aloud as you interpret its literal and figurative layers. Avoid over-explaining; instead, let students grapple and revise their ideas through discussion. Research shows that repeated exposure to metaphors in varied contexts builds flexibility in interpreting them.
Successful learning looks like students confidently distinguishing metaphors from similes, explaining why authors choose figurative language, and applying these ideas to new texts. They should articulate the emotional effect of metaphors and adapt language for specific purposes.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Collaborative Investigation: The Symbol Suitcase, watch for students who pick symbols based on personal preference without connecting to the text.
Prompt groups to reread the assigned text line by line and ask, 'What emotion or theme does this line suggest? Now, find an object that captures that idea.' Have them write their reasoning on a sticky note attached to the suitcase item.
During Think-Pair-Share: Metaphor Makeover, watch for students who change the metaphor’s structure but keep the same abstract idea.
Before revising, ask students to identify the abstract idea in the original metaphor (e.g., 'loneliness') and then brainstorm new metaphors that express that same idea in a fresh way. Share examples of strong vs. weak revisions as a class.
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