Figurative Language Teaching Resources
You use figurative language in your classroom every day, but if you are on the hunt for figurative language worksheets, chances are you are struggling to find good resources for elementary-level learners. Our teacher-created resource collection has you covered with instructional slide decks about idioms, onomatopoeia writing activities, figurative language anchor charts, and more figurative fun.
Each resource has been reviewed by the teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure it's curriculum-aligned so students can meet Common Core and state-level standards.
What Is Figurative Language?
Hey, we don't all teach the same classes every year, and between the list of students with peanut allergies and the latest mandate from administration, you've got a lot of information already packed into your brain. Let the expert ELA teachers on our Teach Starter team provide a quick refresher course. (Already know the answer? Feel free to skip right to downloading the printable activities and worksheets!)
Figurative language is the usage of words that aren't literally or strictly true in order to convey meaning. Wait, huh? Think of it this way — if your students say that their homework was a piece of cake, you know they're using an idiom, but you also know what they mean. That's using figurative language!
Figurative language gives meaning to something by referencing something else — in this case, cake — while literal language is more explicit. If that student were being literal, they could have simply said, "That homework was so easy!"
Figurative language can make reading comprehension challenging for students, particularly multi-lingual learners. But children's figurative language acquisition and development aren't just crucial for reading and writing — studies show they're also a core part of social and emotional learning as children learn better ways to express their feelings.
And let's face it — metaphors, hyperbole, idioms, and all types of figurative language make reading and writing more engaging and exciting. In turn, helping us encourage students to develop a lifelong love of reading.
Figurative Language Examples
As you're sitting down to lesson plan and explore this teaching resource collection, we thought a look at the main figurative language examples might help! Here are the types of figurative language our teacher team has covered in this collection, with editable options that allow you to differentiate lessons to meet the needs of each student in your classroom:
- Similes
- Metaphors
- Personification
- Alliteration
- Onomatopoeia
- Idioms
- Oxymorons
- Hyperbole
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Metaphors Worksheet
Practice identifying and using metaphors with this differentiated metaphors worksheet.
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Simile and Metaphor Self-Portrait Worksheet
Teach students about similes and metaphors by asking them to describe... themselves!
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Figurative Language Task Cards
Practice working with figurative language with this set of 12 task cards.
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Interesting Idioms Worksheet
A worksheet using common idioms.
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Figurative Language Anchor Charts
Remind your students about the most common types of figurative language with this set of classroom anchor charts.
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Figurative Language Sorting Activity
Explore figurative language in context with this set of 28 sorting cards.
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Types of Figurative Language - Worksheet
Practice identifying and creating examples of figurative language with this printable worksheet.
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Poetry and Figurative Language Workbook - Poems for Middle School
Print a pack of poems with figurative language worksheets to practice poetry analysis.
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Literary Devices Posters
Explore the various literary devices used by authors with the set of colorful classroom posters.
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Figurative Languages Lesson - Slide Deck
Teach figurative language using our comprehensive instructional slide deck and accompanying activities.
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Elements of Poetry - Figurative Language
An activity to help students understand figurative language in poetry.
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Interpreting Figurative Language - Worksheets
Explore figurative language in poetry with this age-appropriate poem and accompanying vocabulary questions.
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Grandparents' Day Activity - Simile Spinner Craft
Show Grandma and Grandpa how awesome they are with a Grandparents’ Day Simile Spinner!
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Onomatopoeia Words - Vocabulary Display
Display a fun onomatopoeia word wall in your classroom with printable cards containing onomatopoeia examples.
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Figurative Language Football Interactive Activity
Have a Figurative Language bowl review with this self-checking Google interactive activity.
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Go Figure! - Figurative Language Game
Practice working with different types of figurative language with this hands-on board game.
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40 Traditional Similes - Matchup Activity
A set of 40 simile matchup cards with illustrations.
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Elements of Poetry Worksheet - Idioms
A poem paired with a worksheet to help students understand idioms in poetry.
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Roll and Find – Figurative Language Worksheet
Explore, identify and interpret figurative language with this engaging roll and find activity.
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All About Me! Simile Poem Poster and Worksheet
Get to know your students and explore poetry at the same time with this simile poem scaffolding template.
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Simile Poster (Primary)
Show your students an example of a simile using this colorful classroom display poster.
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Google Slides Interactive - Idioms Activity
Build vocabulary and have fun with an interactive Idioms activity.
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Figurative Language Telephone Game
Play this figurative language game with a group to practice recognizing and inventing metaphors, similes, and personification.
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Idioms: What Are They and What Do They Mean? PowerPoint
An editable PowerPoint presentation to use when teaching idioms.
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Figurative Language Anchor Chart - Onomatopoeia
Help young readers and writers recognize figurative language and onomatopoeia with a set of onomatopoeia anchor charts.
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Idioms Poster
A poster giving the definition for and examples of idioms.
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Figurative Language Flip Book
Practice identify examples of figurative language with this flip book template for kids.
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Valentine's Day - 3rd Grade English Worksheets
Review and practice a wide range of grammar skills with a pack of printable 3rd grade writing worksheets.
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Idioms Four in a Row Game
Practice identifying the meaning of common idioms with an exciting game of Four-in-a-Row!
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Idioms Dominoes
Build vocabulary and have fun with idiom games.
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Idioms Go Fish Card Game
Understand the meaning of common idioms with a classroom game of Idioms-Go Fish!
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Idioms Bingo Game
Build vocabulary and have fun with a classroom game of Idiom Bingo.