Text Selections
Figurative Language Unit
Texts for “Below Level Students”
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Some Smug Slug by Pamela Edwards
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Reading Level : K-2
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My School's a Zoo by Stu Smith | Scholastic.com. (n.d.). Scholastic Teachers. Retrieved October
15, 2014, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/my-schools-zoo#cart/cleanup
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When choosing this text for lower leveled students, I do not intend for it to be in a demeaning
aspect. Personally, if I am having trouble understanding a text if it is presented in the simplest
form it becomes easier to understand. This text in particular focuses on metaphors. It would be
a helpful tool for students who are having trouble remembering what the term means or how to
apply it. With a partner they could identify 5 metaphors and then prepare to share them with
the class.
Texts for “Below Leveled Students”
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How Much Wood could a Woodchuck Chuck
(image used for reference to nursery rhyme, not actual book)
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Reading Level: K – 1
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Brown, S. (n.d.). “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck ... ”. Poetry Foundation. Retrieved
October 15, 2014, from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171
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I chose this text because it focuses on alliteration. By using a nursery rhyme students are able to
connect to prior knowledge. I would have student’s model writing after this text in order to
make sure that comprehension was reached. This fits into my unit because students can relate
to a text which is familiar and easy to make connection to in order to understand the term
alliteration. As a take home assignment, students would choose their favorite nursery rhyme
and find which figurative language aspects apply to the text.
Texts for “On Average Readers”
Firework by Katy Perry
Reading Level: N/A
"Firework" lyrics. (n.d.). KATY PERRY LYRICS. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/katyperry/fire
The reason for incorporating this text is because it adds a different way to view figurative language.
Often times students automatically apply this unit to poetry or narrative texts, but when in fact it is
all around them. This song should also be memorized by majority of the students due to its
popularity on the billboard charts. If students can memorize specific examples (lines from the song)
and understand how it applies to the term, then students will be able to apply these learnings in
their writings. I would create an in class activity where each student would have a different colored
piece of paper which represented a term of figurative language. When the song plays, students
would hold up that colored paper when the term is being applied. This is a useful informal
assessment!
Text for “On Average Readers”
A Lady by Amy Lowell
Figurative Language Poem 7: A Lady by Amy Lowell | Preview. (n.d.). Figurative Language Poem 7: A
Lady by Amy Lowell | Preview. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from
http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/figurative-language-worksheets/figurative-language-poem-7a-lady-by-amy-lowell.htm
The reason for choosing this text is because of the importance of representing figurative language in the
form of poetry. During my lesson I am trying to show that figurative language can be represented in
various ways and not just poetry, however representing these terms in poetry is still an essential
concept. A Lady by Amy Lowell represents strong examples of similes in metaphors; it also is a great tool
to teach meaning behind texts. This poem can be manipulated in multiple ways to represent figurative
language in a mentor text. Students would be challenged to write their own poem which incorporates
figurative language. After the poem was approved, they would switch with a classmate (no names on
the paper) and the classmate would identify the figurative language in their partners poem.
Text for “On Level” Students
Website: Idioms- The Language of Advertising
(Picture not available)
Website link: http://www.english-idioms.com/articles/files/idioms-advertising.html
English Idioms Daily Blog. (n.d.). Idioms: The Language of Advertising. Retrieved October 16, 2014,
from http://www.english-idioms.com/articles/files/idioms-advertising.html
This website is a great tool for students to connect idioms to advertisements they see in their daily
lives. This website provides video clip examples for each advertisement and explains how the idiom
is used. I would use this website when to assist with teaching idioms during instruction. In return,
students would be instructed to make their own commercial with a group that incorporates idioms.
They can create their own or use various ones they have learned. This technique would be a good
hand on experience that would promote student learning!
Text for students “Above Grade Level”
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Reading Level: 9-12
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare | Scholastic.com. (n.d.). Scholastic Teachers. Retrieved
October 15, 2014, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/romeo-and-juliet#cart/cleanup
Figurative Language. (n.d.). Romeo and Juliet. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from
http://romeoandjulietclhs.weebly.com/figurative-language.html
Providing excerpt from Romeo and Juilet is a great way for students to who are advanced to apply
these terms. It challenges them by using language that is not our modern Standard English. Having
an assignment that asks these students to flip through the book and find similes and metaphors will
benefit them because they can apply the learned material to a text. Also, there is a website which
shows examples of Romeo and Juliet excerpts in relation to figurative language. Students can access
this and check their answers or to use as helpful hints! This could be applied as an exit question and
the teacher can informally assess the student knowledge.
Text for Students “Above Grade Level”
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Grade level: 9-12
The Fault in Our Stars. (n.d.). - Hardcover. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from
http://store.scholastic.com/Books/Hardcover-Books/The-Fault-in-Our-Stars
The Fault in Our Stars is a great tool to use with students who are reading above grade level. First, it
is a book they can connect to, but it also displays figurative language through dialogue. I would find
pages that the students can read specifically and print them. Using mentor text that the students
can relate to is an important element when teaching. This book has been popular for this age group
and can be used as a mentor text in order to make the literature more complex.