Understanding Figurative Language: Similes & Metaphors

Active learning works for this topic because students need to move between literal and nonliteral thinking while noticing structure and purpose. When they act out comparisons, map visual relationships, and compare their own writing to an author’s choices, the abstract becomes concrete and memorable.

• 3rd Grade
• English Language Arts
• 4 activities
• 15 min–25 min

Learning Objectives

1. Identify similes and metaphors in short literary passages.
2. Explain the comparison being made in a given simile or metaphor.
3. Distinguish between literal and nonliteral statements.
4. Create original sentences using similes and metaphors to describe common objects or actions.
5. Compare the imagery created by a literal sentence versus a figurative one.

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Literal or Figurative?

The teacher reads eight sentences aloud, alternating literal and figurative language. Students signal with thumbs-up for figurative and thumbs-down for literal, then turn to a partner to explain what image the figurative language creates and what two things are being compared.

Prepare & details

How does a metaphor or simile create a more vivid image than literal language?

Facilitation Tip: During Think-Pair-Share, set a timer so students have a quiet 30-second window to process before speaking to a partner.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

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

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 25 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Metaphor Meaning Map

Small groups receive a metaphor card such as 'Life is a journey.' The group maps the comparison by listing which features of the second thing apply to the first and which do not. Groups share their maps and compare interpretations, noting where different students saw the comparison differently.

Prepare & details

What is the difference between words with similar meanings like 'stroll' and 'march'?

Facilitation Tip: When using the Metaphor Meaning Map, model shading one section yourself so students see how to organize their comparisons visually.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Gallery Walk

⏱ 20 min·Individual

Gallery Walk: Author's Choice Wall

Post eight quotes from recently read texts, some using similes and some metaphors. Students rotate and annotate each: Is it a simile or metaphor? What two things are being compared? What image or feeling does the comparison create? A class discussion synthesizes the annotation patterns across all eight examples.

Prepare & details

How do real-life connections help us understand the nuances of adjectives?

Facilitation Tip: For the Gallery Walk, post images at shoulder height so students move easily and do not crowd any one example.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

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

Role Play

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Role Play: Write Like the Author

Partners each write a three-sentence description of the same scene, such as a thunderstorm: one partner uses only literal language, the other uses at least one simile and one metaphor. Partners read both versions aloud and discuss which is more vivid and why the figurative comparisons create a stronger effect.

Prepare & details

How does a metaphor or simile create a more vivid image than literal language?

Facilitation Tip: In the Role Play activity, provide sentence stems on index cards to scaffold language for students who need extra support.

Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging

Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet

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

Teaching This Topic

Teach similes and metaphors by pairing each new example with a literal version so students feel the difference in impact. Always ask ‘Could this actually happen?’ to train the habit of checking for literal truth. Avoid overgeneralizing that ‘poetic = figurative’; anchor every lesson in the test of literal possibility.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students identifying similes and metaphors with accuracy, explaining the two things being compared, and justifying why the figurative language creates a stronger image than literal language. Discussions should include clear references to evidence from the text.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Think-Pair-Share: Literal or Figurative?, some students claim similes and metaphors mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably.

What to Teach Instead

Use the color-coded anchor chart from the Metaphor Meaning Map activity to show how similes always contain ‘like’ or ‘as’ and metaphors do not. Have students highlight these words in shared texts as a visual reminder.

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: Metaphor Meaning Map, students say figurative language is just decorative and does not add real meaning.

What to Teach Instead

After students finish their maps, ask them to write the literal version of their metaphor below it. Then, in pairs, have them compare the two sentences and explain which version shows the stronger image and why.

Common Misconception

During Gallery Walk: Author's Choice Wall, students assume that poetic or elaborate language must be figurative.

What to Teach Instead

At the end of the walk, bring the class back to the test sentence strips. Ask partners to hold up an ‘L’ or ‘F’ card for each, explaining whether the statement would be false if taken literally.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Collaborative Investigation: Metaphor Meaning Map, give students a short paragraph containing 2-3 examples of similes and metaphors. Ask them to underline each simile and circle each metaphor, then choose one example to explain what two things are being compared in one sentence.

Quick Check

During Think-Pair-Share: Literal or Figurative?, present a list of sentences. Ask students to write ‘L’ next to literal sentences and ‘F’ next to figurative sentences. Follow up by asking students to identify whether the figurative sentences use a simile or a metaphor.

Discussion Prompt

During Role Play: Write Like the Author, present the sentence ‘The wind howled like a wolf.’ Ask students: ‘What two things are being compared here? Is this a simile or a metaphor? How does this comparison make the wind sound different from just saying ‘The wind blew hard’?’

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to create a two-sentence riddle using one simile and one metaphor; partners guess the two things being compared.
• Scaffolding: For students who struggle, provide a bank of images to sort into literal or figurative categories before moving to written sentences.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to revise a literal sentence by adding a simile or metaphor, then compare word counts to show how much meaning is packed into figurative language.

Key Vocabulary

simile	A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as'. For example, 'The runner was as fast as a cheetah.'
metaphor	A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as', stating one thing *is* another. For example, 'Her smile was sunshine.'
literal language	Language that means exactly what it says, without any hidden or implied meaning. For example, 'The cat sat on the mat.'
figurative language	Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation, often to create a more vivid image or effect. Similes and metaphors are types of figurative language.