Casestudy 1

Learning Figurative Language
Grades: 6-7
Overview:
Teaching ELL students the concept of figurative language and learning

figures of speech. Specifically we will talk about personification.
Description of Learners:
6th and 7th graders who are all Hispanic. 30% are ELL students.
Intended Learning Goals:
The goal of this lesson is to teach students the meaning of figurative

language and learn some figures of speech.
Lesson Content:
Using an instructional PowerPoint and an activity to teach students about

personification.
Learning Objectives:
Without using reference materials, students will be able to identify

personifications in writing without error.
Without using reference materials, students will be able to create their
own personifications without error.
Standards:
California Common Core State Standard 5A for 6th and 7th grade.
Required Materials:
1. Powerpoint presentation about personification (link

attached)
2. e-boards
3. Lyrics to a few songs with personification (examples in
procedure) and their YouTube Videos (attached)
4. Worksheets for assessment (attached)
5. Index cards for exit tickets
Procedures:
1. Start lesson with a class discussion about what the

students think personification means.
a. Give the word in Spanish Personificacin
b. Ask the students to try and break down the
word. Break down the word and talk about Person and fication Talk about how -fication means making or
causing something
c. The combination of these two things is
literally person- making and by extension making
person-like
d. Describe how personifications give humanlike qualities to non-human objects or animals.
2. Give examples of personification.
a. Present the examples on a PowerPoint.
b. The personification will appear
underlined/highlighted after the teacher briefly discusses
the answer with students.
3. Then, have students find a couple on their own by
presenting personifications that are not highlighted/underlined.
a. Pair up all students, making sure to pair
ELL students with students who are proficient in English

and Spanish.
b. Have pairs work together to decide what
they think the personifications are within the sentences
given. Encourage using Spanish if necessary for
understanding.
c. Have volunteer groups underline/highlight
on the e-board and explain out loud the real meaning of
the personification for each example.
4. Play a few snippets of songs that use personifications.
a. Some examples would be Live Like Were
Dying by Kris Allen, Firework by Katy Perry, and Need
You Now by Lady Antebellum.
b. Print out the lyrics and have kids listen to
the song and highlight the personification.
c. This is real world application to
personification.
5. Assess students by using exit tickets.
a. Give each student one index card and
have them write in their own words what a personification
is and give an example from class or make up their own.
b. Evaluate each exit ticket and from there
the teacher can determine the students level of
understanding of personifications.
Assessment:
After teaching the lesson, students will complete the worksheet as an

assessment. Each question will count as one point.
References and Reference Standards:

Materials:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/finalelaccssstandards.pdf
Powerpoint created by Lily Stanton:
http://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved
=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fteacherweb.com%2FGA
%2FLKMossPrimarySchool%2FMrsMichelleHarris%2FPersonificationPowerpoint.ppt&ei=lh7uVOKGGZaoyATgxYGICg&usg=AFQjCNEPFHthI
ECFXwHDcsPz7Mlx0w7TMA&sig2=tUgc35OrqkszKAARxvJhGg
YouTube Videos:
Firework: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3P9fyJEu6E
Live Like Were Dying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6jnynVLfLA
Need You Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw0tCdRLy0w
References
Iddings, A. C. D., Risko, V. J. & Rampulla, M. P. (2009). When You Don't Speak Their Language:
Guiding English-Language Learners Through conversations about text. The Reading
Teacher, 63, 5261. doi: 10.1598/RT.63.1.5
This article is about the experience a teacher had with teaching ELL students. He uses
several different techniques to help the students comprehend reading in English. This teacher
uses Curious George books because they use good descriptions and he had read that it was
helpful for ELL students to read multiple texts with the same characters and basic ideas. He
uses several different methods to help his students understand the text. Two ideas we
incorporated on our lesson plan were letting the students help each other and encouraging them
to depend their understanding using their first language, Spanish. The article states that when
students help each other, it helps them develop not only their English, but their Spanish as well.
Also, encouraging them to use Spanish helps them to deepen their understanding of what they
are learning.
Zheng, D., Young, M. F., Brewer, R. A., & Wagner, M. (2009). Attitude and Self-efficacy change:
English language learning in virtual worlds. CALICO Journal, 27.
This article explored how technology can help ELLs become more confident and comfortable in
learning English. It discovered that ELLs that participated in a 3D-like virtual world game on the
Internet rated themselves higher in self-efficacy in learning more advanced English and toward
communication via technology. This article helped with the development of our lesson plan
because we learned that using English along with technology helps the ELLs to feel more
comfortable and confident in their abilities to speak and understand English.
Explain the Personification

Personification is a figurative element that attributes human thoughts, actions,
characteristics or emotions to something that is not human.
EX: The sad clouds were ready to spill their tears upon the funeral procession.
Clouds cannot be sad, nor do they have tears.
Part I. Simple Sentences

Identify and explain the meaning of the personification in the sentences below.
1) The feathers danced in the wind.
_______________________________________________________________
_
_______________________________________________________________
_
2) The clock chimed an anxious warning at a quarter to midnight, alerting the
children that the deadline had almost arrived.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
__
3) The flies buzzed with regret as the lion shook its head.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
__
4) The night was sullen and angry; it became darker with each step Maria took.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
__
Part II. In Literature

Read the following passage from O! Pioneers by Willa Cather. Write three
examples of the use of personification.
We hadnt any of us much to do with it, Carl. The land did it. It had its little joke.
It pretended to be poor because nobody knew how to work it right; and then, all
at once, it worked itself. It woke up out of its sleep and stretched itself, and it
was so big, so rich, that we suddenly found we were rich, just from sitting still.
1)_____________________________________________________________
_
2)_____________________________________________________________
_
3)_____________________________________________________________
_
Personification in Song Lyrics

Directions: Highlight or underline the personification in each of the songs given.
Live Like Were Dying by Kris Allen

Sometimes we fall down, can't get back up
We're hiding behind skin that's too tough
How come we don't say I love you enough
Till it's too late, it's not too late
Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you,
What would you wish you would've done
Firework by Katy Perry

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep six feet under?
Screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you?
Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor.
Reaching for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore.
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time.
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without.
I just need you now.

Casestudy 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Casestudy 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Casestudy 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Learning Figurative Language

Teaching ELL students the concept of figurative language and learning

Intended Learning Goals:

The goal of this lesson is to teach students the meaning of figurative

Using an instructional PowerPoint and an activity to teach students about

Without using reference materials, students will be able to identify

1. Powerpoint presentation about personification (link

1. Start lesson with a class discussion about what the

ELL students with students who are proficient in English

After teaching the lesson, students will complete the worksheet as an

References and Reference Standards:

Explain the Personification

Part I. Simple Sentences

Part II. In Literature

Personification in Song Lyrics

Live Like Were Dying by Kris Allen

Firework by Katy Perry

Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

You might also like