Figurative Language

Figurative language is present in literature and even in everyday speech; it is used to embellish and transform language. Therefore, students need to become familiar with figurative language to better communicate with others as well as to further understand literary text. Figurative language can be part of reading, writing, comprehension, and vocabulary instruction. Grade-level teachers include similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, and hyperbole in their lesson plans. Lessons on figurative language concepts are particularly difficult for students who are English Language Learners (ELLs), as they may not understand the nuances of the language.

K-12 teachers can find figurative language learning objectives, as they relate to reading comprehension, in the ELA Common Core State Standards for reading under the Craft and Structure strand. Starting in third grade, students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of literal and nonliteral (i.e. figurative) language. Objectives become substantially more rigorous, since by 11th and 12th grade, students are expected to analyze and interpret figures of speech, like hyperbole and paradox.

Figurative Language Practice Lists

VocabularySpellingCity provides K-12 teachers with free figurative language resources. Ready-made figurative language practice lists range from elementary to high school. Word lists can be used with interactive figurative language online games, engaging activities, and printable figurative language worksheets to reinforce understanding of figurative language.

Students can play WhichWord? Sentences with a similes word list to learn how these figures of speech are used in practice. A Sentence Writing Practice activity would then allow students to try their hand at using each example of figurative language in a sentence. The MatchIt Definitions figurative language online game will help students learn the definitions of the figures of speech. VocabularySpellingCity also recognizes the importance of student collaboration, and has created fun printable figurative language worksheets and activities that students can work on together.