Figurative Language Flowers

Has your room went Figurative Language CRAZY??!  It's like spring hit and the kids are picking up on Figurative Language everywhere.  I LOVE it!  To celebrate spring, or maybe just Figurative Language, or maybe just another Open House project... we made a Figurative Language bulletin board.  The top has our CA poppies (which each petal has examples of Hyperbole, Alliteration, Simile, and Personification), and then on the bottom the kids created their Literal Idiom Art.  Oh - that just capitalized on their silliness these days.  The flowers are just a big template that I give my students that they trace onto orange construction paper and cut out (I use file folders to create the template).  After writing, they fold the petals forward to make them POP from the wall.  The idiom art came from The Peanut Gallery.  I glue them 4 per piece of construction paper and then cut the green edge to form grass that also pops off the wall.  It's the little things people...  

What are you doing to have fun with Figurative Language these days? Hope this helped someone!  

Figurative Language Folder {Freebie}

A couple of weeks ago we read McBroom and the Big Wind.  It's a fun book filled with figurative language.  I had this freebie, but instead of just keeping it as a sheet of paper, I decided to have the kids turn it into a fun folder.  There is something exciting when a normal worksheet turns into an art project - it's so much more engaging!

Now in the story the kids are blown into the air, so the kids cut out the different types of figurative language and turned them into McBroom's children.  They wrote examples of each type, and then decorated the folders.  It was rewarding to see them grasp the concepts.  

Do you read any McBroom stories?  I hope this helps you!

Figurative Language Review

We've been reviewing Figurative Language a lot lately!  The other day we played a Scoot game with my task cards.  Just a little thing that I do, but I always pass out the task cards by student number... mainly to keep kids responsible, but also to know who has each card.

After we reviewed it altogether, I gave kids the option between rainbows and flowers to write down their own examples.  I printed them off half size, and now I have a class set for next year.  

The kids wrote down their own examples (good assessment tool), and then we put them up on our "Figurative Language Garden".  

The idioms came from The Peanut Gallery. What a smart idea! 

Here are some examples:

Love it!  How do you practice figurative language in class?

Simile Snowflakes

I love this project, even though it creates a trail of silver glitter throughout my classroom.

For this, my students brainstormed items that they considered unique, fragile, and light.  We made a big list on the board, and some of them we had to really discuss.  Then they wrote their own idea on their papers, and glued it onto the bottom of the black construction paper.  I had picked up those foam snowflakes when Target had then 90% off (after Christmas sale), so they glued that on top, and then could decorate the design on top of the snowflake.  I was in charge of the silver glitter outside on my ramp, and the ground outside is still completely glitterized.  They look so pretty though, and my kids had a good review of similes - so it's worth it!  I'm sure my custodian would also agree.  :)

Do you do something similar?  How do you review similes?  Share!  

Five for Friday: Figurative Language, Fractions, and Flip Books

Can you tell I like alliterations?
I'm actually off school today to attend my son's Preschool Mother's Day Celebration.  It's not for a little bit, so I wanted to stop by and share what's kept me busy this week.

Open House is less than 1 week away, so we have been busy tackling a lot of projects.  

The other day we made our Literal Idiom Art by the Peanut Gallery.  I made them half size and glued it onto green construction paper.  We turned the edges of the construction paper into "grass".  Last year I made math flowers that went on top, this year I wanted it to turn into a figurative language wall - so we made some construction paper CA poppies.

I had forgotten how easy it was to make a template - copy it a few times on file folders, and then pass around the card stock so the kids could trace onto their own piece of construction paper.  I LOVE how they turned out.  On the 4 petals the kids had to write a simile, personification, hyperbole, and alliteration that all revolved around poppies.

  

We also finished up our Equivalent Fraction Laundry.  That was a fun project, and not hard.  

Step 1: Write equivalent fractions on the laundry

Step 2: Color background (a little grass, a lot of sky)

Step 3: Cut out laundry and check spacing

Step 4: Glue on popsicle sticks, yarn, and laundry

This week we have also been working on our Bubble Gum books.  The kids took 2 pieces of beige construction paper and made a flip book.  Then on the flaps they wrote opinion, persuasive, and narrative.  As a reminder, I had them trace the edges of the page flaps so they could remember how much room they had to write when the pages were open.  

*Opinion - Their opinion about gum, what's the best flavor, brand, etc.

*Persuasive - They tried to convince someone that they should have gum (Me, Parent, Principal - should be allowed at school, Dentist - should be allowed with braces).  They had to come up with reasons they thought it was a good idea.

*Narrative - Fiction or Nonfiction Story about gum

I took pictures of them pretending to blow a bubble, and have the pink balloons ready for next week to add as the cover.  The balloons will thread through their mouth in the picture so it will look that the bubble is coming directly out of their mouth, and then the entire picture & bubble will be glued onto their booklets.  

Yesterday was my birthday.  I love my birthday - May 8th is the best day of the entire year!!  My boys treated me like a princess, and my hubby surprised me too.  He brought flowers, a gigantic balloon, and a package of red vines to school.  I went out to lunch with my good friends, had a good laugh - and spent the day with 31 amazing ten year olds.  EVERYONE was on their best behavior.  :) 

Amazing day!  

My boys picked up some new "toys" for me (with the help of my hubby).  I had so much fun last night doodling with that Creative Pen and Touch Tablet.  My boys had fun too.  It plugs into my laptop (worked just to place on top of the keyboard), and then the images showed up on my screen.  I love to doodle, and now have a way to record what I draw!  :)  Little things!    

Like I mentioned above, I'm not at school today - spent yesterday afternoon getting ready for a sub.  Do you do the same type of thing - everything laid out on your desk, in order from morning to afternoon, with a ton of post its over everything?  I do leave actual plans too - they aren't in the picture, but were on the main cart with my sub binder.

Linking this all up with Doodlebugs!       

Figurative Language Partner Review {Using Task Cards}

Today my kids did another activity with Figurative Language.  I used the task cards from Pinkadots Elementary and got my kids into groups.  Each pair of kids got a sheet of task cards (just printed on copy paper) and they had to solve those 4 questions.  We went over the meanings of the different types of figurative language one more time and then they were off.  

The directions I gave them were to not only figure out if the answer was A, B, or C - they also needed to underline the part of the sentence that proved that specific figurative language.  Some of them were tricky (and higher level thinking) because it could have been one or another!    

  Afterward they put their names on their papers, I collected, and then we used the document camera to review full class.  I love being able to just print and go - sometimes kids really do need to write on the materials.      

   

This product is a part of the Educents Poetry Bundle.  11 downloads for only $10.99 - It was a great deal (even though I already owned some of the products).  Saved me money picking up the remaining ones!  

Now you might be wondering why I picked up this bundle since I also have figurative language task cards in my store - also multiple choice.  I tend to use mine at the end of our unit as an assessment tool.  It's always nice having different resources that I can use pre, during, and post.  :)    

Hope you had a great day!  Linking this up with Jivey!  I know her linky is talking about poetry, but figurative language goes hand in hand with it.  We have to teach how to make the words come alive.  It totally makes sense to me with the connection!