Figurative Language can be a tough concept to teach. Many students just don’t get that the words can’t be taken literally, but if you teach English Language Learners – you know they struggle with this even more than the average student. With that in mind, today’s post is a round-up of great figurative language ideas that ANY students can benefit from!
Below you’ll find over 15 ideas that you can implement in your classroom immediately because they are all FREE! I’ve also compiled a list of books to help you teach your students as well.
This blog post contains affiliate links. Read my entire disclosure here.
Get these FREE figurative language puzzles from Catherine Reed – Brown Bag Teacher.
Create onomatopoeia art! This would make a great bulletin board display! Here’s another example that uses speech bubbles. Runde’s Room has some more neat ideas that you can turn into a bulletin board also.
Use songs (like this activity by Tracee Orman) to teach figurative language. 
Make popsicle similes! Then turn them into complete poems.
See what fun activities Rachel Lynette has for idioms!
These figurative language posters are a great way for your students to reference eight different figures of speech. Or use these free reference sheets.
These figurative language activities and worksheets were created by a speech therapist, but they would work for any students.
Try this Close Reading FREEBIE from I’m Lovin’ Lit. (If you like it, she has the full product for sale as well.)
This FREE Personification Packet is sure to be a hit as well!
Create a figurative language booklet with this FREEBIE!
Use commercials to teach various figurative language examples!
Create a foldable for students to reference so they never forget the terms of each type of figurative language (and they’ll always have an example or two to reference!).
Or here’s a favorite game I have played with onomatopoeia. Have your students stand in a circle. Go around the circle as quickly as possible and say any onomatopoeia that comes to mind. If you repeat one that has already been said, you’re out. If it takes you more than 2-3 seconds (at the teacher’s discretion), you’re out! It’s a silly, fun game that will get students quickly thinking on their feet!
As if that’s not enough – here are some books that help teach various types of figurative language. Click on any link to purchase via my affiliate on Amazon.
Books for teaching onomatopoeia:
Books for teaching alliteration:
Books for teaching metaphor:
Books for teaching simile:
Books for teaching personification:
- The Little Red Pen
- Sweet Tooth
Books for teaching idioms:
Do you have a free figurative language activity? Do you have a book you always use to help teach figurative language? Share them in the comments below!
This is a great list of resources. As a special ed teacher, I find this a very challenging topic for my kids, especially those with autism. There are some really great ideas here that I know my students would enjoy and respond to. AND, it saves me so much time hunting around the internet looking on my own. THANKS!!
Thanks so much for sharing this terrific resource at the #LMMLinkup this week. I love the combination of online resources and books.
PS. I selected your post my favorite for this week’s linkup. You will be featured in our next linkup which goes live on Sunday at 6 p.m.