Figurative Language in Everyday Use

Active learning works because figurative language requires students to move from passive recognition to active interpretation. When students discuss, sort, and create, they practice the inference skills that make these expressions meaningful in real contexts, not just in memory.

• 7th Grade
• English Language Arts
• 4 activities
• 12 min–20 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the cultural context of at least three common idioms to explain their non-literal meanings.
2. Compare the literal interpretations of five proverbs with their commonly understood figurative meanings.
3. Explain how the use of two adages in a given text contributes to the author's message or tone.
4. Identify the type of figurative language (idiom, proverb, or adage) used in ten different sentences.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of an idiom or adage in conveying meaning within a short narrative.

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Literal vs. Figurative Interpretation

Present students with five common idioms ("hit the nail on the head," "under the weather," "piece of cake"). Each student writes the literal meaning and then the figurative meaning. Pairs discuss what context clues would help a reader choose the right interpretation, then share examples with the class.

Prepare & details

How does understanding the cultural context help interpret the meaning of an idiom?

Facilitation Tip: During the Think-Pair-Share, circulate and listen for students who are stuck on literal meanings before prompting them to consider context together.

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

Gallery Walk

⏱ 20 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Proverbs Across Cultures

Post six proverbs from different cultural traditions around the room. Students rotate, write the implied meaning of each, and note any connections to familiar English-language proverbs. Debrief by comparing how different cultures express similar wisdom using different images.

Prepare & details

Compare the literal and figurative meanings of common proverbs.

Facilitation Tip: In the Gallery Walk, assign small groups to one section so they have time to read, discuss, and prepare a brief summary before moving on.

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

Give One, Get One

⏱ 15 min·Small Groups

Sorting Activity: Idiom, Proverb, or Adage?

Give groups a set of expression cards to categorize. Students must also write a brief justification for each categorization. Disagreements become discussion points during class debrief, reinforcing the distinctions through argumentation rather than memorization.

Prepare & details

Explain how the use of an adage can add wisdom or humor to a text.

Facilitation Tip: For the Sorting Activity, provide a mix of familiar and unfamiliar examples so students practice inference rather than recall.

Setup: Open space for students to mingle

Materials: Recording sheet with numbered blanks, Pencils, Timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Give One, Get One

⏱ 12 min·Individual

Quick Write: Figurative Language in Context

Students select an adage or proverb and write a short paragraph using it in context -- either explaining it in relation to a current event or connecting it to a scene from a book they are reading. This anchors the figurative expression in something concrete.

Prepare & details

How does understanding the cultural context help interpret the meaning of an idiom?

Facilitation Tip: During the Quick Write, remind students to use a phrase in context before explaining it, reinforcing the connection between language and situation.

Setup: Open space for students to mingle

Materials: Recording sheet with numbered blanks, Pencils, Timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teach figurative language by grounding it in real-world use rather than isolated memorization. Research shows that students learn best when they encounter these expressions in context and discuss their cultural or historical meanings. Avoid presenting them as lists to memorize. Instead, use collaborative tasks that require students to reason together, as this builds the interpretive skills needed for comprehension in literature and everyday speech.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently distinguishing idioms, proverbs, and adages in new contexts, explaining their meanings using context clues, and applying this skill to everyday reading. Students should also recognize that these expressions reflect cultural and historical perspectives.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Think-Pair-Share, watch for students who assume idioms translate directly between languages. They may try to match words without considering cultural context.

What to Teach Instead

Use the Think-Pair-Share to guide students to discuss the idiom's cultural origin and situation. Ask: 'What does this phrase mean in English? Could it mean the same thing in another language? Why or why not?'

Common Misconception

During Sorting Activity, watch for students who treat proverbs and adages as interchangeable. They may sort based on familiarity rather than distinguishing features.

What to Teach Instead

After students sort the phrases, have each group explain their choices. Ask: 'What clues helped you decide if this was a proverb or an adage? Did the age or wisdom in the saying matter?'

Common Misconception

During Quick Write, watch for students who memorize definitions rather than interpreting expressions in context. They may write a phrase and its dictionary meaning without connecting it to a scenario.

What to Teach Instead

Require students to include a scenario with their phrase. Ask: 'Where would someone say this? What is happening in that moment that makes this phrase fit?'

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After the Sorting Activity, provide students with three sentences each containing either an idiom, proverb, or adage. Ask them to: 1. Identify the figurative language used. 2. Write its literal meaning. 3. Write its figurative meaning.

Discussion Prompt

During the Gallery Walk, pause students after they have visited two stations. Ask: 'How might someone misunderstand the proverb 'A rolling stone gathers no moss' if they didn't know its historical context?' Facilitate a brief discussion connecting cultural knowledge to meaning.

Quick Check

After the Quick Write, collect student responses and review them as a class. Ask students to share one phrase they wrote and explain how context helped them interpret it. Use this to identify any lingering confusion about figurative vs. literal meaning.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to find three idioms, proverbs, or adages in a text they are reading independently and explain their meaning in context.
• Scaffolding: Provide a bank of idioms with visual cues or short scenarios to support inference for students who need additional context.
• Deeper exploration: Have students research the origin of one proverb or adage and present how its historical context shapes its modern meaning.

Key Vocabulary

Idiom	A phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of the words in it. For example, 'kick the bucket' means to die.
Proverb	A short, well-known saying that expresses a common truth or piece of advice. For example, 'A stitch in time saves nine'.
Adage	A traditional saying or observation that is widely accepted as true, often reflecting wisdom. For example, 'The early bird catches the worm'.
Figurative Language	Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. It includes idioms, proverbs, and adages.
Literal Meaning	The most basic or obvious meaning of a word or phrase, without any exaggeration or metaphor.