Figurative language brings reading and language to life for students. So helping students understand expressions such as similes, metaphors, personification, and hyperbole is important! One way to achieve this is through figurative language anchor charts! They provide students with definitions, examples, and reference points during their figurative language unit. Whether you’re teaching figurative language in reading or as a language and grammar unit, these anchor chart ideas will help bring your lessons to life!
Introduction to Figurative Language Anchor Charts
Firstly, students will need an introduction to the concept of “Figurative Language.” Students need to understand the difference between “Literal” and “Non-Literal Language.” A simple idea to kick off your figurative language anchor charts lists types of figurative language. This will help your students see what they will be learning with a definition and example should do the trick!
*A way to make figurative language anchor charts interactive: Laminate the anchor chart & keep a stack of sticky notes and a marker nearby. Any time students find an example of these types of language within their independent or shared reading, they can add a sticky note to the correct box!
You can also use the digital and printable anchor charts that come in the CCSS ELA Units (if you have them!) Each standard and skill will have an anchor chart that you can display on the board or print in poster size!
The main objective of introductory figurative language anchor charts is to define what figurative language is and provide a few examples to build context!
Figurative Language Anchor Charts: Similes, Metaphors & Personification
Next, you will need an anchor chart for similes and metaphors! I like to include personification with these because they are all comparative (but some of your grade levels won’t require teaching this type of figurative language yet).
Draw a simple t-chart with a clear description of each literary device (laminate and allow room for sticky notes). Then, use sticky notes to sort figurative language examples into the correct column! This activity can be done again and again until your students have gained mastery!
Similarly, you will find digital and printable versions of anchor charts for specific literary devices within your ELA units! These are great for interactive notebooks or ELA binders. You can even share them digitally to include in “anchor chart” or “ELA notes” folders in students’ drives!
Figurative Language Anchor Charts: Idioms, Adages, & Proverbs
Lastly, we can teach all about idioms, proverbs, and adages together. Since these are all commonly known sayings that have been used for a long time, learning to differentiate between them can be difficult. So, students will just need practice and connection! As with similes & metaphors, students can continue their learning by adding sticky notes to these charts as they come to examples in their own reading.
Students will love finding figurative language examples and adding them to the corresponding charts! Once a week or so, take a few minutes to gather your students and go through the examples they have found. You all can read the example and decipher whether it is in the correct category or not. Thus, continuing the learning experience, correcting misconceptions, and strengthening understanding!
Luckily, there are lots of engaging mentor texts that can help students with this, too.
Thanks so much for coming back to check out these figurative language anchor charts!
Here are a Few Fantastic Reading or Language Units to Teach Figurative Language
3rd Grade:
3rd Grade Reading Unit
3rd Grade Language Unit
4th Grade:
4th Grade Reading Unit
4th Grade Language Unit 1
4th Grade Language Unit 2
Meanwhile, would you like to read more Language and Grammar blog posts?
