Similes & Metaphors
CONCEPTUALUnderstand and identify similes (comparisons using like or as) and metaphors (direct comparisons stating something is something else) in texts, explaining how each creates imagery and conveys meaning
Mastery Evidence
- Identify similes in a text by locating comparisons using 'like' or 'as' and explain what two things are being compared and what quality is highlighted, e.g. 'The snow was like a white blanket'
- Identify metaphors in a text and explain the implied comparison, e.g. in 'Time is a thief', explain that time is compared to a thief because it takes things away
- Explain how a simile or metaphor in a poem or story creates a particular image or feeling for the reader that a literal description would not achieve
Assessment Prompt
“When [child] reads a description like "the moon was a silver coin" or "her smile was like sunshine," can they explain what image the author was trying to create?”
Curriculum Standards3 alignments
L.4.5aCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical SubjectsExplain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context.
L.5.5aCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical SubjectsInterpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context.
RL.5.4Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical SubjectsDetermine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
Prerequisites2
- Expressive and Sensory LanguagesoftAges 6—9
- Literal vs Figurative LanguagehardAges 8—9
Show full prerequisite tree
- Expressive and Sensory Language soft
Literary language recognition provides context for understanding how similes and metaphors function within texts
- Listening to Texts Read Aloud hard
Recognising literary language requires listening comprehension of stories/poetry
- How Many in Total? soft
Sorting and categorising objects uses the same counting/cardinality skills from maths
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Literal vs Figurative Language hard
Identifying similes and metaphors requires the ability to distinguish literal from figurative language
- Expressive and Sensory Language hard
Distinguishing literal from nonliteral builds on recognising literary language and sensory words
- Listening to Texts Read Aloud hard
Recognising literary language requires listening comprehension of stories/poetry
- How Many in Total? soft
Sorting and categorising objects uses the same counting/cardinality skills from maths
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
- Shades of Meaning soft
Understanding figurative language connects to distinguishing shades of meaning
- How Many in Total? soft
Sorting and categorising objects uses the same counting/cardinality skills from maths
- One-to-one counting hard
Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'
Unlocks1
- How Language Choices Affect the ReaderhardAges 10—11