Nature Idioms
Subject: Language Arts
Grade Level: 6
Standards:
L.6.3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
L.6.5: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word
meanings.
W.6.3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique,
relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
W.6.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.6.6. Use technology, including the Internet to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and
collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills.
Objectives:
1. Students will interpret the natural world through their own words using figurative language.
2. Students will make observations of the natural world utilizing figurative language.
3. Students will form complete written sentences.
4. Students will create a nature idiom PowerPoint.
Procedure:
1. Explore the literal and figurative meaning of idioms. Provide some examples from
the novel being read at the time.
2. Have a list of idioms pertaining to nature and/or the outdoors. Go over the
meanings of the idioms with the students. See attached list
3. Randomly assign a nature idiom to the students.
4. Provide the Nature Idiom Planning sheet to each student and allow time to
complete.
5. Take the students outside and provide time for picture taking
6. Have the students use their pictures to create a PowerPoint explaining the idiom,
following the guidelines on the rubric and planning sheet.
7. Students share their PowerPoint with the class.
Nature Idiom Power Point Planning Sheet
Name: _______________ Hour: ______
Date: __________________
Essential Question: How can people use idioms to express themselves?
You will be creating a Power Point presentation using a nature idiom to illustrate the difference
between literal and figurative meaning. You and a partner will be taking pictures to illustrate
the literal meaning of the idiom. You will need to take at least three pictures for your idiom.
You will then create a Power Point similar to the example shared in class.
Notes:
Idiom:
______________________________________________________________________________
Literal meaning:
______________________________________________________________________
Ideas for pictures to illustrate the literal meaning:
______________________________________________________________________________
Figurative meaning:
___________________________________________________________________
Ideas for pictures to illustrate the figurative meaning (optional):
______________________________________________________________________________
Idiom used in a sentence:
______________________________________________________________________________
Outline for Power Point:
Slide one: Idiom
Slide two: Literal picture and explanation of how it is used literally
Slide three: Figurative meaning – What does the idiom really mean? Optional: You may include
a picture (clip art/ digital picture) to help illustrate the meaning. Optional: You may also include
information about the idiom’s origin.
Slide four: Use the idiom in a sentence.
Category
CONTENT-Literal
(slide 2)
5 points
Literal meaning is
accurate.
CONTENT- Figurative
(slide 3)
Figurative meaning is
Figurative meaning is
accurate and used
partially accurate but
correctly in the sentence idiom is used
incorrectly in the
sentence
The idiom is used
The idiom is used
correctly in a sentence
correctly in a sentence
with adequate context.
without adequate
context.
No errors
1 word misspelled or 1
grammar error
Figurative meaning is
confusing and not
accurate and idiom is
used incorrectly in the
sentence
The use of the idiom in
the sentence is
confusing or incorrect.
Graphics/Pictures
support the literal
definition of the idiom.
Graphics/pictures do not
support the literal
definition of the idiom
and confuse the viewer
CONTENT - Idiom
sentence (slide 4)
SPELLING/GRAMMAR
(all slides)
GRAPHICS/PICTURES
(slide 2)
____ Turned in on time
3 points
Literal meaning is
partially accurate
1 or 2 parts of the
graphic do not seem to
support the literal
definition of the idiom
____Optional items included
1 point
Literal meaning is
confusing
2 or more spelling or
grammar errors
Total Score: _____/25
List of possible Nature Idioms

a breath of fresh air

add fuel to the fire

dead in the water

dead to the world

in deep water

in hot water

be in the land of the living

beat around the bush

calm before the storm

castles in the air

come into bloom

come under fire

draw the shortest straw

drop in the bucket

fan the flames

gain ground

get into deep water

in the air

make a mountain out of a molehill

make waves

not hold water

oceans of

of the first water

rain or shine

root and branch

sail against the wind

sail close to the wind

salt of the earth

sell ice to Eskimos

the chill wind of something

under a cloud

under the sun

up in the air

vale of tears

vanish into the air

walk on air

when it rains, it pours
Between a rock and a hard spot
Scattered in the wind
Can’t see the forest for the trees


