Figurative Language: Similes and Metaphors

Active learning helps students visualize comparisons and internalize figurative language. Working in pairs, groups, or as a class lets them test ideas, correct misunderstandings, and build confidence through immediate feedback. Physical movement and object-based tasks make abstract concepts concrete for young learners.

• Primary 2
• English Language
• 4 activities
• 15 min–30 min

Learning Objectives

1. Identify similes and metaphors in provided sentences.
2. Explain the comparison being made in a given simile or metaphor.
3. Create original similes using the 'as...as...' structure to describe objects.
4. Formulate simple metaphors to describe familiar objects or concepts.

Trading Cards

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Pairs: Simile Creation Relay

Pairs take turns adding to a simile chain, starting with 'The pencil is...'. One student says 'as sharp as', the partner completes it. Switch roles after five rounds, then share best ones with the class.

Prepare & details

What picture does the simile 'as fast as a cheetah' make in your mind?

Facilitation Tip: During Simile Creation Relay, model how to turn a plain word into a simile by holding up the object and saying a sentence aloud first.

Setup: Standard seating for creation, open space for trading

Materials: Blank trading card template, Colored pencils/markers, Reference materials, Trading rules sheet

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Trading Cards

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

Small Groups: Metaphor Hunt

Groups search the classroom or picture books for metaphors, like 'time is a thief'. Record three examples on chart paper with drawings. Discuss why each works as a comparison.

Prepare & details

How does saying 'the sun is a ball of fire' help you understand what the sun is like?

Facilitation Tip: During Metaphor Hunt, circulate and ask guiding questions such as 'What does this object feel like? What could it remind you of?'

Setup: Standard seating for creation, open space for trading

Materials: Blank trading card template, Colored pencils/markers, Reference materials, Trading rules sheet

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Trading Cards

⏱ 15 min·Whole Class

Whole Class: Simile Simon Says

Teacher calls actions with similes, such as 'run as fast as a cheetah'. Students act them out only if simile fits. Debrief on images created and invent new ones together.

Prepare & details

Can you make up your own simile using 'as ... as ...' to describe something in the classroom?

Facilitation Tip: During Simile Simon Says, call out actions that match the similes to keep the game fast and fun while reinforcing meaning.

Setup: Standard seating for creation, open space for trading

Materials: Blank trading card template, Colored pencils/markers, Reference materials, Trading rules sheet

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Trading Cards

⏱ 25 min·Individual

Individual: My Metaphor Journal

Students draw an object and write a metaphor for it, like 'my heart is a drum'. Share one with a partner for feedback before adding to journals.

Prepare & details

What picture does the simile 'as fast as a cheetah' make in your mind?

Facilitation Tip: During My Metaphor Journal, provide sentence stems like 'The [object] was a ___ because ____' to scaffold writing.

Setup: Standard seating for creation, open space for trading

Materials: Blank trading card template, Colored pencils/markers, Reference materials, Trading rules sheet

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Start with concrete objects students handle daily to anchor comparisons. Use gradual release: model examples, guide practice together, then let students try independently. Keep examples grounded in their world so the figurative language feels purposeful, not abstract. Avoid overloading with too many terms at once.

What to Expect

By the end of these activities, students will spot similes and metaphors in context, explain what two things are being compared, and create their own examples fluently. They will use figurative language to add vivid details to their writing and speech.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Simile Creation Relay, watch for students who write comparisons that are too similar to their partner's or use literal descriptions instead of vivid pictures.

What to Teach Instead

Pause the relay and ask pairs to share one comparison with the class. Discuss how each example creates a different mental image, reinforcing that figurative language must paint a picture.

Common Misconception

During Metaphor Hunt, watch for students who label every sentence with 'like' or 'as' as a simile regardless of the structure.

What to Teach Instead

Have students sort example cards into 'simile' and 'metaphor' piles, then explain their choices aloud to clarify the difference in structure and purpose.

Common Misconception

During Simile Simon Says, watch for students who think metaphors only belong in poems and ignore them in the game.

What to Teach Instead

After the game, ask students to turn the similes they acted out into metaphors by changing the sentence structure, showing how both tools enrich everyday talk.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Metaphor Hunt, present a short paragraph containing 2-3 similes and 1-2 metaphors. Ask students to underline all the similes and circle all the metaphors. Then, have them choose one simile and explain what two things are being compared.

Exit Ticket

During My Metaphor Journal, give each student a card with an object. Ask them to write one simile using 'as...as...' and one sentence using a metaphor to describe it before turning it in.

Discussion Prompt

After Simile Simon Says, ask students: 'If I say 'The classroom was a zoo today', what does that tell you about the classroom? What two things are being compared? Is this a simile or a metaphor? Why?'

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to combine a simile and a metaphor in one sentence using the same object.
• Scaffolding: Provide a word bank of comparison words (like, as, is, was) and a list of classroom objects.
• Deeper: Have students rewrite a simple sentence from a story using figurative language, then share with a partner.

Key Vocabulary

simile	A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'. It helps make descriptions more vivid.
metaphor	A figure of speech that directly states one thing is another, without using 'like' or 'as'. It implies a comparison.
comparison	Looking at two or more things to see how they are similar or different. Similes and metaphors are types of comparisons.
vivid	Producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind. Figurative language helps make writing vivid.