English Language Arts · 3rd Grade

Active learning ideas

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.

• Common Core State Standards
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5.a
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4

• 15–25 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• 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.

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.

What to look for

Provide students with a short paragraph containing 2-3 examples of similes and metaphors. Ask them to underline each simile and circle each metaphor. Then, have them choose one example and write one sentence explaining what two things are being compared.

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

Activity 02

• 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.

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.

What to look for

Present students with a list of sentences. Ask them to write 'L' next to sentences that are literal and 'F' next to sentences that are figurative. Follow up by asking students to identify whether the figurative sentences use a simile or a metaphor.

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

Activity 03

• 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.

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.

What to look for

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'?'

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

Activity 04

• 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.

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.

What to look for

Provide students with a short paragraph containing 2-3 examples of similes and metaphors. Ask them to underline each simile and circle each metaphor. Then, have them choose one example and write one sentence explaining what two things are being compared.

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

A few notes on teaching this unit

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.

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.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

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

  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.

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

  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.

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

  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.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share
• Inquiry Circle
• Gallery Walk
• Role Play