Students will identify examples of figurative language that they read or hear in the classroom. The class will nominate terms, vote on them and then write an acceptance speech for the winning figurative example, but the speech must also incorporate figurative language. This activity assumes students will have some knowledge of similes, metaphors and personification. The voting requires students to evaluate the best use and situations for figurative language.
Each student will take a turn telling the class a personal story about his weekend or summer vacation. He will have to write the story ahead of time, with a checklist to ensure that he employs at least six of the eight methods for figurative language. This activity is perfect for all ages, but the imaginations of elementary students should be wild enough to understand these concepts. Students likely will have fun developing their stories.
Students can draw and write their own comic books and learn a lesson in figurative language at the same time. Superheroes, the common subject of comic books, are exaggerations of the desirable qualities of humans. The pages of most comics contain onomatopoeic phrases, especially in fight scenes, for example "POW!," "BOOM," "CRASH!" "CLUNK" and "VROOM." The Superman introduction "More powerful than a locomotive" is an example of a hyperbolic statement. Students can bring their characters to life and might even forget that they are learning something useful about figurative language.