Literal & Nonliteral Language

Grade Level: 4-6

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2 Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 5 Activity Page ▶ pages 6 - 7 Practice Page ▶ page 8 Homework Page ▶ page 9 Answer Key ▶ page 10 - 11

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Classroom Procedure:1. Say: It is raining hard. No, I mean it is raining cats

and dogs. AND I am very hungry. I am so hungry, I can eat a horse. (You may use other examples.) Ask students if they can tell the difference between the pairs of statements. Which gives more information?

2. Allow for responses and discussion. Introduce literal and nonliteral language.

3. Distribute Literal-Nonliteral Language content pages. Read and review the information with the students. Give students a few moments to share responses to: Describe something about yourself using literal and nonliteral language. Use the additional resources to enhance understanding.

4. Distribute Activity page. Read and review the instructions. Pair students. Encourage students to work together and discuss each image before drawing the final picture. (Images will vary.) Tell students to think about the real meaning of each idiom.

5. Once completed, students will share the images with the class, use the idioms in a sentence aloud, and tell the meaning of the idioms.

6. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ responses.

7. Distribute the Homework page. Review the instructions, reminding students they may have a parent or family member assist them. The next day, students share their sentences.

8. In closing, challenge students to create a new nonliteral saying. Tell them their goal is to try and get other students to use it over the next week. Distribute a small slip of paper to record it; collect them for later use.

9. After one week, review the students’ made-up figurative language phrases/sentences and ask students how often they may have heard it.

10. Ask students to share the real meaning of the nonliteral language.

Approximate Grade Level: 3 – 4

Objectives:

The students will be able to define literal and nonliteral language, identify the differences, and give examples and tell the meaning of nonliteral (figurative) language.

Common Core State Standards:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.5.ACCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.4CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.4

Class Sessions (45 minutes):

At least 2 class sessions.

Teaching Materials/Worksheets:

Literal-Nonliteral Language content pages (2), Activity pages (2), Practice page, Homework page

Student Supplies:

Colored pencils, handouts

Prepare Ahead of Time:

Lesson opening phrases. Slips of paper for lesson closing. Colored pencils for activity, pair students. Copy handouts.

Options for Lesson:

Students may work alone for the activity. Students draw the pictures on construction paper or other paper. Plan an “Idiom Week” and at the end of each day students share idioms they heard or read. Create 5 groups, one for each type of figurative language, students work together and create as many sentences as possible with the type. Students play charades using idioms and other types of figurative language as the class tries to correctly guess the phrase. Distribute a large list of idioms, metaphors, etc., and ask students to identify some of the meanings.

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Teacher NotesThe lesson introduces students to the differences between literal and nonliteral language, or figurative speech. Most students use nonliteral language regularly, but probably do not recognize it as such. There are several examples of nonliteral language discussed in the lesson. Once students learn the difference they will begin to recognize and enjoy using both literal and nonliteral language.

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Additional Resources:Content:https://www.jstor.org/stable/3332964?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contentshttp://lakeshorelearning.info/general_content/free_resources/teachers_corner/lesson_plans/literalVsNonlit-eral.jsphttp://www.kids.net.au/encyclopedia-wiki/li/Literal_and_figurative_languagehttp://betterlesson.com/lesson/569942/say-what-introducing-non-literal-languagehttp://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResourceLesson/Preview/68912https://www.smore.com/ybpuj-literal-nonliteral-phrases-idioms

Worksheets: http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/magazines/edition56/pdfs/SN56-033009-REPRO-2.pdfhttp://www.reallygoodstuff.com/images/art/306089.pdfhttps://www.biglearners.com/worksheets/grade-3/english/grammar/literal-figurative-meaning-of-word-sphraseshttp://www.englishworksheetsland.com/grade3/4literal.htmlhttp://www.k12reader.com/subject/figurative-language-worksheets/http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/figurative-language/https://edsitement.neh.gov/sites/edsitement.neh.gov/files/worksheets/worksheet3_student_version.pdf

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhmuF0y24N8 (8 min)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW7OtRnzd78 (1 min)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UjtIPDyenw (10 min)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p50_yNQLj5c (4 min-text)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApdOw2JA3GI (5 min)

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Word MeaningsHave you ever heard someone say: I played that game a million times? Do you truly believe someone can play a video game one million times? It is not possible. If a person plays a video game two times per day, it would take nearly 2,000 years to reach one million. You know the meaning of each word in the sentence, but when you join all the words together, there is a different meaning. It is obvious the person has played the game many times.

The sentence is an example of using exaggeration to emphasize something, add excitement, or just to be funny. Even though you know the meanings of thousands and thousands of words, when you put them together in sentences the meanings may change. For example, cats and dogs are pets, but when it is raining cats and dogs, it means the rain is coming down very hard.

Words and sentences have their literal meaning, the real definition of the words; or they could have a nonliteral or figurative meaning, which is not the actual definition of the words.

Literal LanguageThe literal meaning of words and sentences are the true and real meaning of a phrase. For example, review the following statements:

Literal Nonliteral

The secret has been revealed. The cat is out of the bag.

Both statements have the same meaning: A secret is now known.

The nonliteral statement is about a cat, which represents the secret, was once unknown, but now the “cat” or secret has been removed from, or taken “out of the bag”. It is no longer a secret.

When a person says exactly what they mean, they are being literal. Sometimes you might hear someone make a comment like this: Literally, it has been raining for two days straight. The person is emphasizing that it truly has been raining for two straight days, and they are not trying to exaggerate the information. A nonliteral statement about the rain could be: It has been raining forever.

There are several types of nonliteral language, called figurative language.

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Nonliteral LanguageNonliteral or figurative language includes the use of words or phrases that are used differently than their true or real meaning. There are several types of figurative language, and each one is nonliteral. Most likely, you have used figurative language without realizing it. Review some of the examples. Do you know what they mean?

I have a ton of homework. The work was a piece of cake. Don’t cry over spilled milk.The town never sleeps. The students are busy as bees.

Five Types of Figurative Language

Type Description Example

Hyperbole Use of exaggeration, emphasizes a point, adds excitement or humor.

There were a million people standing in line. It took forever to finish the work.

MetaphorA comparison between two things that are not the same.

The singer’s voice was music to my ears. The mean man has a heart of stone.

Simile A comparison between two unlike things suing like or as.

The newborn baby eats like a bird. Older people are sometimes wise as owls.

Idiom The intended meaning differs from the literal meaning.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

Personification Giving human characteristics to non-human objects or things

The lost keys were playing hide and seek. The stars were winking at me tonight.

Describe something about yourself using literal and nonliteral language.

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You may have heard or used many of the examples. To help understand figurative language, it is important to understand the literal meaning of some of the phrases. For example, if you say you have “a ton of homework”, it would mean you have lots of homework because a ton is also a lot. Another example is related to birds, which do not each much, so if a baby eats like a bird, the simile tells you the baby does not eat much either.

There are many examples of figurative language, some are popular and used quite often. You can easily use figurative language when writing stories or passing along information to a friend or family member. The use of figurative language often helps make a story more exciting, funny, or may bring a clearer meaning or image to a reader or listener.

Not Exciting Clear and Exciting

On my way to school, it was cold. On my way to school, I turned into an ice cube.

Both statements tell you it was cold, but the one using figurative language is more interesting and there is emphasis added because of the ice cube. Practice creating your own figurative language examples, and be aware of figurative language as you read stories or listen to others speak.

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Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Work with your partner and draw a picture to match each idiom

At the drop of a hat Get bent out of shape

Have eyes in the back of one’s head Hit the nail on the head

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Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Pull somebody’s leg Under the weather

Wild goose chase Hit the roadOnce you have completed the drawings, think about the meaning of each idiom. You will share your responses with the class. Try to use each one in a sentence too.

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Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Match the description to the correct type of figurative language1 The intended meaning differs from the literal meaning. A Hyperbole

2 Giving human characteristics to non-human objects or things. B Idiom

3 Exaggeration, emphasizes a point, adds excitement or humor C Metaphor

4 A comparison between two unlike things suing like or as. D Personification

5 A comparison between two things that are not the same. E Simile

Tell whether each statement is Literal (L) or Nonliteral (N)

6 There’s one inch of snow on the street. 9 The cat and dog were fighting.

7 The team ate nearly all the chicken. 10 I must have eaten a thousand cookies.

8 Some runners are as fast as racecars. 11 The girl’s face was sunshine.

Match the figurative language example with a literal meaning

12 The camera loves the little boy. A The comments spread quickly.

13 The dog’s breath killed the plants. B The music is playing too loud.

14 The class is skating on thin ice. C Good things come from bad things.

15 The boy is afraid of his own shadow. D If you are late, too bad.

16 The rumor spread like a wild fire. E The man moved very quietly.

17 Time waits for no one. F The dog needed its mouth cleaned.

18 Every cloud has a silver lining. G Many things scare the boy.

19 The music can be heard in the next state. H The students are not working hard.

20 Santa Clause was as quiet as a mouse. I He looks great in photos.

Write 2 literal sentences with matching sentences using figurative language

1 1

2 2

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Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Use each figurative language phrase in a sentence. Ask a parent or family member for help.

1. as slippery as an eel

2. apple of my eye

3. worth a billion dollars

4. barking up the wrong tree

5. alarm clock screams at me

6. flowers begging for water

7. tree branches danced

8. burn the midnight oil

9. kill two birds with one stone

10. soar like an eagle

11. The twins were as thin as ____________________________________________________

12. The man runs as fast as a ____________________________________________________

13. There were __________________________________________________________ as big as a bus.

14. Her smile was ____________________________________________________________________.

15. ____________________________________________________________________was easy as pie.

Complete each sentence using figurative language

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Practice Name __________________________ Date _________Answer Key

Match the description to the correct type of figurative language

1 B The intended meaning differs from the literal meaning. A Hyperbole2 D Giving human characteristics to non-human objects or things. B Idiom3 A Exaggeration, emphasizes a point, adds excitement or humor C Metaphor4 E A comparison between two unlike things suing like or as. D Personification5 C A comparison between two things that are not the same. E Simile

Tell whether each statement is Literal (L) or Nonliteral (N)

6 L There’s one inch of snow on the street. 9 L The cat and dog were fighting.7 L The team ate nearly all the chicken. 10 NL I must have eaten a thousand cookies.8 NL Some runners are as fast as racecars. 11 NL The girl’s face was sunshine.

Match the figurative language example with a literal meaning

12 I The camera loves the little boy. A The comments spread quickly.13 F The dog’s breath killed the plants. B The music is playing too loud.14 H The class is skating on thin ice. C Good things come from bad things.15 G The boy is afraid of his own shadow. D If you are late, too bad.16 A The rumor spread like a wild fire. E The man moved very quietly.17 D Time waits for no one. F The dog needed its mouth cleaned.18 C Every cloud has a silver lining. G Many things scare the boy.19 B The music can be heard in the next state. H The students are not working hard.20 E Santa Clause was as quiet as a mouse. I He looks great in photos.

Write 2 literal sentences with matching sentences using figurative language

1 1

2 2

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Homework Name __________________________ Date _________Answer Key

Use each figurative language phrase in a sentence. Ask a parent or family member for help.1. as slippery as an eelThe baseball was as slippery as an eel.2. apple of my eyeMy grandmother loves me and calls me the apple of her eye.3. worth a billion dollarsYour friendship is worth a billion dollars.4. barking up the wrong treeYou are barking up the wrong tree if you think that is correct.5. alarm clock screams at meEach morning the alarm clock screams at me to get out of bed.6. flowers begging for waterThe flowers reached out to me begging for water.7. tree branches dancedAs the wind blew, the tree branches danced.8. burn the midnight oilHe burned the midnight oil staying up late doing homework9. kill two birds with one stoneWe can kill two birds with one stone if we stop at the store to get bread and a movie.10. soar like an eagleThe kite soared like an eagle through the sky.

Complete each sentence using figurative language11. The twins were as thin as a couple of telephone poles.

12. The man runs as fast as a fire engine on the way to a fire.

13. There were three elephants in the zoo as big as a bus.

14. Her smile was like sunshine lighting up the room.

15. I studied for the test and it was easy as pie.