Identifying the Meaning of
Common Idioms
4/27-5/15
3 weeks
3.4D
3rd Grade
Page 1
Lesson
Lesson 31
Lesson 32
Lesson 33
3rd Grade
Time Frame
4/27-4/31
5/4-5/8
5/11-5/15
Focus
Understanding Common Idioms
Understanding Common Idioms-Independent Practice
Understanding Common Idioms-Independent Practice
Page 2
Lesson 31
Lesson Overview: 3.4D/Understanding Common Idioms
1. For lessons on Idioms, use the Idioms PowerPoint. The slides feature common idioms and strategies
you can use to figure out the meanings
2. Create the Common Idioms Anchor Chart with your students & distribute a copy of the common idioms
list for students to paste in their Word Study Notebook. Students may add idioms in the blanks.
3. Independent Practice:
Tuesday
Idioms Practice Page
 print a copy for each student
Wednesday
Literal and Figurative Illustrations

Create an example as an anchor chart (This activity will be repeated in subsequent lessons)
Thursday
Friday
3rd Grade
Idiom Quadrant Activity (see example attached)
 Make copies for students or have them create the activity in their Word Study
Notebooks
Sticky Note on Back Game
 Use sticky notes and write an idiom on the note for every student
 Place the sticky note on the back of each student without them seeing their idiom
 Give students a set time or play music to walk around and find a partner
Page 3


The partners take turns acting out and/or giving word clues for each other’s idiom
without using any of the words until they guess the idiom correctly
Repeat as time allows
Common Idioms
Idioms- a common expression that does NOT mean what
it literally says
Idiom
piece of cake
cost an arm and a leg
hit the books
all eyes on me
a frog in my throat
give me a hand
broke my heart
all ears
3rd Grade
Meaning
easy
expensive
study
look at me
sore or scratchy throat
can you help me
made me sad
listening
Page 4
Common Idioms
piece of cake
cost an arm and a leg
hit the books
all eyes on me
a frog in my throat
give me a hand
broke my heart
all ears
break a leg
on cloud nin
zip your lips
shake a leg
green thumb
made my mouth water
hit the road
under the weather
ants in my pants
raining cats and dogs
heart of gold
cat’s got your tongue
time flies
driving me up the wall
cut it out
pulling my leg
don’t rain on my parade
couch potato
keep your shirt on
butterflies in your stomach
3rd Grade
Meanings
easy
expensive
study
look at me
sore or scratchy throat
can you help me
made me sad
listening
good luck
really happy
be quiet and close your mouth
dance
good at gardening and keeping plants alive
tastes delicious
let’s go
sick and not feeling well
very excited
raining very hard
considerate, kind, and thoughtful
forgot what you were going to say
time goes by quickly
making me crazy
stop doing that
playing a joke on me
don’t ruin my happy moments
lazy and watches a lot of tv
stay calm
nervous
Page 5
Name
___________________________
Idioms Practice
Write the meaning of each idiom on the line.
1. walking on air
2. beat around the bush
3. apple of my eye
4. land on one’s feet
5. couch potato
6. heart of gold
7. in the limelight
Circle the meaning of the underlined idiom.
8. We have to tighten our belts and follow our budgets if we want to take a trip this year.
a. be more careful with money
b. move the buckles over a notch
9. Looking for something in Brent’s messy room is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
a. something sharp and pointy
b. something hard to find
10. I was worried we wouldn’t get to the game on time, but we arrived at the eleventh hour.
a. at eleven o’clock
3rd Grade
b. at the last minute
Page 6
Idiom: a green thumb
Meaning: able grow plants
Literal Meaning
Meaning: Jack’s thumb turned green after
planting all those seeds in his garden.
3rd Grade
Figurative Meaning
Meaning: Jack must have a green thumb beause
his garden is always beautiful and thriving!
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Name: __________________________
Idiom: ___________________________________________________________
Meaning:_________________________________________________________
Literal Meaning
Meaning:
3rd Grade
Figurative Meaning
Meaning:
Page 8
Name: __________________________
Idiom Quadrant Activity
Idiom:
Illustration (literal or figurative)
Meaning:
Sentence:
3rd Grade
Page 9
Lesson 32
Lesson Overview: 3.4D/Understanding Common Idioms
1. Being exposed to common idioms and their meanings is the best way for students to begin to understand
them. This week will provide students with further independent practice.
2. Independent Practice:
MondayThursday
Friday
3rd Grade

Students will choose an idiom from the Common Idioms List or another teacher
approved idiom
 Students will complete either the Literal and Figurative Illustration activity or the
Idiom Quadrant Activity
Sticky Note on Back Game
 Use sticky notes and write an idiom on the note for every student
 Place the sticky note on the back of each student without them seeing their idiom
 Give students a set time or play music to walk around and find a partner
 The partners take turns acting out and/or giving word clues for each other’s idiom
without using any of the words until they guess the idiom correctly
 Repeat as time allows
Page 10
Lesson 33
Lesson Overview: 3.4D/Understanding Common Idioms
1. Being exposed to common idioms and their meanings is the best way for students to begin to understand
them. This week will provide students with further independent practice.
2. Independent Practice:
MondayThursday
Friday
3rd Grade

Students will choose an idiom from the Common Idioms List or another teacher
approved idiom
 Students will complete either the Literal and Figurative Illustration activity or the
Idiom Quadrant Activity
Sticky Note on Back Game
 Use sticky notes and write an idiom on the note for every student
 Place the sticky note on the back of each student without them seeing their idiom
 Give students a set time or play music to walk around and find a partner
 The partners take turns acting out and/or giving word clues for each other’s idiom
without using any of the words until they guess the idiom correctly
 Repeat as time allows
Page 11