ceciliafelsenstein Teaching figurative language to high school students can be challenging as students usually state and argue that they know them and that they are tired of going over literary devices year after year… so why not reviewing some of them in a more entertaining way?
What is the best time to practise stylistic devices?
There is not a BEST time to go over figurative language. We can always practise imagery. We can either devote some time to teaching the devices or we can use them in different classroon situations such as for:
- Stations
- morning work
- early finishers
- Bell ringers
Without doubt, teaching figurative language to high school students is essential! So, with this in mind, choose the time that best suits you, but do give your students some stylistic devices practise!
Literary Devices
- Metaphors: They are figures of speech that imply comparisons between two different objects (E.g: She has a heart of stone). If you want your students to go deep into analyzing metaphors and understanding them, check out this resource!
- Similes: Similarly, similes are figures of speech that imply comparisons between two different objects; however, these take the words “like” or “as” (E.g: I am as hungry as a wolf). Check out this FREE RESOURCE to review similes!
- Idioms: They are phrases or expressions used in a non-literal way. They say one thing but mean something else (E.g: Don’t beat around the bush, just tell me the bad news…). Idioms can be reviewed in a creative way… You can ask your students to draw and use the idiom given in context. Here you’ll find 30 no-prep cards to go over specific idioms while having fun!
- Hyperboles: They are exaggerations not meant to be taken liteally (E.g: I’m so tired I could sleep a year!). Would you like your students to work on some hyperboles to really understand the concept? Check out this link!
- Oxymorons: They are contradictory terms which appear side by side (E.g: The food was awfully good). After practising and going over some of the oxymorons included in this resource, your students will be able to use them in their oral speech and in their writings for sure!
- Puns: A pun is a play on words used in a humorous or clever way (E.g: “Mine is a long and a sad tale!” said the Mouse). Just print these cards and have your students draw the pun, explain the meanings of words and the device itself. Then, they are supposed to write a paragraph using the figurative meaning of the pun in context.
- Personification: They are figures of speech which include giving human qualities to objects, animals or ideas (E.g: The leaves danced to the ground). This activity requires your students to draw the personification, look for two verbs AND two objects to replace the given ones. Then, they are supposed to explain the personification and to write a paragraph using the figurative meaning of the it in context.
So…
If you want to get all of these activities with a discount, click on the image below:
Hope you have fun reviewing these literary devices with your students! Surely, they will be able to analyze them and use them after so much practise! Can you say then, that teaching figurative language to high school students is boring?
