Nature Idioms Overview: Students will interpret and observe the natural world using figurative language. Students will then create a nature idiom PowerPoint with complete sentences to discuss the origin and meaning of nature idioms. Subject Areas: Language Arts Grade Levels: 6-8 Topics: Human Culture Great Lakes Literacy Principles: 8. The Great Lakes are socially, economically, and environmentally significant to the region, the nation and the planet. Materials: Nature Idiom Power Point Planning Sheet (below) List of Idioms (below) 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