You will learn
- Spot figurative language.
- Name the type.
- Explain the meaning.
- Tell literal from figurative.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Ask: could this be literally true?
- Name the type.
- Explain the comparison.
- Say what it makes you picture.
Words to know
a comparison using like or as
a comparison saying one thing is another
giving human actions to a non-human thing
extreme exaggeration
1. Discover: Night at the market
The moon was a silver coin in the sky. The wind whispered between the stalls. Mama Tayo’s voice was as warm as fresh bread. A little boy said, “I have a million things to carry!”
Think: Which are comparisons and which are exaggeration?
2. Understand: Words that paint pictures
Idea 1: Simile and metaphor
A simile uses like or as: as warm as fresh bread. A metaphor says one thing is another: the moon was a silver coin.
Idea 2: Personification
Personification gives human actions to things: the wind whispered.
Idea 3: Hyperbole
Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration: a million things to carry. It is not meant to be taken literally.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Metaphor
Name the metaphor.
- One thing is another.
Answer: The moon was a silver coin
Example 2 (We do it together): Simile
Name the simile.
- Like or as.
Answer: as warm as fresh bread
Example 3 (You try): Personification
What is personified?
Show the steps and answer
- Human action.
Answer: the wind (it whispered)
Did you know?
People use figurative language every day without noticing, such as saying it is raining cats and dogs.
Why this matters
Figurative language makes writing vivid and shows deeper meaning.
4. Explore: Picture words
Write figurative language.
- Choose an object.
- Write a simile.
- Write a metaphor.
- Write a personification line.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can use figurative language.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- This is a ___ because ___.
- It compares ___ to ___.
- It makes me picture ___.
- Literally, it means ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. A comparison using like or as is a ___.
simile
Question 2. A comparison saying one thing is another is a ___.
metaphor
Question 3. Giving human actions to a thing is ___.
personification
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A comparison using like or as is a ___.
- A comparison saying one thing is another is a ___.
- Giving human actions to a thing is ___.
- Extreme exaggeration is ___.
- The moon was a silver ___.
Level 2: Grow
- What whispered?
- What was Mama Tayo’s voice like?
- What did the boy say he had?
Level 3: Stretch
- Does a simile use like or as?
- Is hyperbole literal?
- Does personification make things human?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Write one simile, one metaphor and one personification about a rainy day.
Show a sample answer
three lines
Another one. Find three examples of figurative language in a book and name each.
Show a sample answer
a completed task
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Slow down and check your work.
Fix: Study the example first, then try.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can spot figurative language.
- I can name the type.
- I can explain the meaning.
- I can tell literal from figurative.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Ask: could this be literally true?
- Name the type.
- Explain the comparison.
- Say what it makes you picture.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Comparing literary texts. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a simile? Give an example. [2 marks]
- What is a metaphor? Give an example. [2 marks]
- What is personification? [1 mark]
- What is hyperbole? [1 mark]
- Explain how to find figurative language. [3 marks]
Total: 9 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- comparison using like/as [1]; e.g. as warm as bread [1]
- says one thing is another [1]; e.g. the moon was a silver coin [1]
- giving human actions to a thing [1]
- extreme exaggeration [1]
- ask if it could be literally true [1]; name the type [1]; explain what it makes you picture [1]
Score guide: 8 to 9 = secure. 6 to 7 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A comparison using like or as is a ___.
- A comparison saying one thing is another is a ___.
- Giving human actions to a thing is ___.
- Extreme exaggeration is ___.
- The moon was a silver ___.
- What whispered?
- What was Mama Tayo’s voice like?
- What did the boy say he had?
- Does a simile use like or as?
- Is hyperbole literal?
Homework
Find three examples of figurative language in a book and name each.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A comparison using like or as is a ___. | simile | 1 |
| 2. A comparison saying one thing is another is a ___. | metaphor | 1 |
| 3. Giving human actions to a thing is ___. | personification | 1 |
| 4. Extreme exaggeration is ___. | hyperbole | 1 |
| 5. The moon was a silver ___. | coin | 1 |
| 6. What whispered? | the wind | 1 |
| 7. What was Mama Tayo’s voice like? | warm as fresh bread | 1 |
| 8. What did the boy say he had? | a million things | 1 |
| 9. Does a simile use like or as? | yes | 1 |
| 10. Is hyperbole literal? | no | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 simile; 2 metaphor; 3 personification; 4 hyperbole; 5 coin. Level 2: 1 the wind; 2 warm as fresh bread; 3 a million things. Level 3: 1 yes; 2 no; 3 yes.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Spot figurative language | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Name the type | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Explain the meaning | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Tell literal from figurative | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Rushing without checking. Slow down and check your work.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Re-read the examples slowly and use the sentence frames.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child practises a key Grade 3 English skill with clear examples and a quiz. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Listen while your child explains the idea.
- Ask for one new example.
- Praise effort and careful work.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: spot figurative language; name the type; explain the meaning; tell literal from figurative.
Prerequisite knowledge. Point of view.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Introduce the idea with the opening example.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the key words.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise together.
Independent activity (10 min). Check understanding with the quiz.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What is the key idea? Can I give my own example?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use the sentence frames and work with a partner. Extension. Create a harder example of your own.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Rushing without checking. Slow down and check your work.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 9-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Re-read the examples slowly and use the sentence frames. Enrichment. Make up your own example and teach it to someone at home. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 4 » Reading: Foundational Skills; Grade 4 » Reading: Literature; Grade 4 » Reading: Informational Text. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core L.4.5a and RL.4.4 (explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors in context; determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text); Cambridge Primary English Stage 4 (language and imagery). These sources informed the lesson.