Give students a list of sentences that use personification and ask them to determine both the actor and the act that exemplifies personification. Suggested sentences include:
The tree sang a lovely, mournful tune during the thunderstorm.
The book called to me from its perch on the shelf.
As Oscar reached the tenth page of his essay, his pen cried out in desperation.
Oscar's pen cried out in desperation as he reached the 10th page of his essay.
Another way to get your students thinking about personification is to have them engage in free-writing or journaling about personification. Give them a list of inanimate objects and have them write a short entry about each that uses personification. Examples of items include:
Pen
Snowflake
Squirrel
Chalkboard
Cloud
Provide your students with objects that they can personify through the medium of drama. Give them a cast list and a topic and then turn them loose! You'll be surprised how creative they can get. Some options for cast lists and conflict include:
Dozen eggs and breakfast
Pieces of hair just before a haircut
Squirrels packing away nuts for the winter