English · Class 5

Active learning ideas

Figurative Language: Idioms and Proverbs

Active learning helps students grasp figurative language because idioms and proverbs live in real contexts, not abstract rules. When students act out idioms or race to match proverbs, the non-literal meanings stick in their minds through movement, laughter, and shared discovery.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• CBSE: Figures of Speech - Idioms and Proverbs - Class 5

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

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 30 min · Small Groups

Charades Game: Act Out Idioms

Prepare cards with idioms like 'piece of cake' or 'burn the midnight oil'. In small groups, one student acts out the idiom silently while others guess the meaning and explain the figurative sense. Groups share one example with the class and discuss cultural origins.

Explain the cultural significance behind common idioms and proverbs.

Facilitation Tip

During the Charades Game, circulate and quietly prompt groups to explain the idiom after acting, so the figurative meaning is clarified before the next turn.

What to look for

Provide students with a slip of paper. Ask them to write down one idiom or proverb they learned, its literal meaning, and its figurative meaning. Collect these to check individual comprehension.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Role Play
• 25 min · Pairs

Proverb Matching Relay: Pairs Race

List proverbs and meanings on separate cards around the room. Pairs race to match them correctly, then create sentences using one pair. Debrief as a class on how proverbs teach life lessons from Indian traditions.

Analyze how the literal meaning of an idiom differs from its figurative meaning.

Facilitation Tip

In the Proverb Matching Relay, place extra emphasis on pairing proverbs with their explanations, not just matching cards, to deepen understanding.

What to look for

Present students with a list of sentences, some containing idioms/proverbs used correctly and others incorrectly. Ask them to identify the sentences with correct usage and briefly explain why. This can be done orally in small groups or as a written task.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Role Play
• 40 min · Small Groups

Dialogue Workshop: Build Stories

In small groups, students select five idioms and proverbs to weave into a short dialogue about a school adventure. They rehearse and perform for the class, with peers noting correct usage and suggesting improvements.

Construct a short dialogue incorporating several idioms correctly.

Facilitation Tip

In the Dialogue Workshop, provide sentence starters like 'I felt like a fish out of water when...' to guide students toward idiomatic expressions.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Why do you think people use idioms and proverbs instead of just saying things directly?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to share their thoughts on clarity, impact, and cultural connection.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 04

• Role Play
• 20 min · Individual

Idiom Hunt: Classroom Scavenger

Hide idiom cards with pictures around the class. Individually, students find them, note literal versus figurative meanings in notebooks, then share findings in a whole-class discussion linking to everyday Indian contexts.

Explain the cultural significance behind common idioms and proverbs.

What to look for

Provide students with a slip of paper. Ask them to write down one idiom or proverb they learned, its literal meaning, and its figurative meaning. Collect these to check individual comprehension.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should model confusion when first encountering idioms, asking students to guess meanings before revealing them. Avoid over-explaining; let peer interaction clarify doubts. Research shows that students remember idioms better when they create their own examples rather than memorize lists.

Students should confidently distinguish between literal and figurative meanings, explain idioms and proverbs in their own words, and connect them to everyday situations. Successful learning sounds like laughter during charades and thoughtful pauses during proverb discussions.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Charades Game, watch for students who believe idioms always mean exactly what the words say literally.

  Pause the game after each act and ask the group to explain the idiom’s figurative meaning in their own words before moving to the next card.

• During the Proverb Matching Relay, watch for students who think proverbs have no real connection to modern life or culture.

  After the relay, gather students to share personal stories that connect to the proverbs they matched, highlighting their timeless relevance.

• During the Dialogue Workshop role-plays, watch for students who assume all idioms and proverbs are the same everywhere.

  After each pair presents, ask them to compare their idiom with a partner’s and discuss cultural differences, using the local variants as examples.

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Methods used in this brief

• Role Play