If figurative language makes your kids feel blue or under the weather, use an activity focused on idioms to help them feel on top of the world. Kids complete a chart with seven idiomatic phrases, adding the meaning of each along with an example sentence using the idiom correctly.

Concepts

idioms, figurative language

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Add to a homework packet for language arts
• Have kids walk around the room to ask each other for help when filling in the chart
• See if kids can illustrate pictures for the figurative meaning of the idiom, as the literal meaning is shown on the worksheet
• Encourage kids to think of additional idioms, and to draw both meanings for what they come up with
• Use popular picture books to teach about idioms

Classroom Considerations

• Pictures are in color, and printing in black and white may affect understanding as some of the idioms are specific to color
• English learners may have a hard time defining each phrase as there are no context clues (pictures simply show the literal meaning of each phrase)

Pros

• Comes with an answer key, which is a great reference sheet by itself
• Prompts kids to think critically about the expressions they read or have heard in their lives

Cons

• None

Common Core

L.3.5.a L.4.5.a L.4.5.b L.5.5.a L.5.5.b