Simile Lesson

 Lesson: Similes

Objective

  • The student will know the definition of a simile and be able to identify examples of them within various texts. 
  • The student will also be able to produce samples of similes on their own. 

 TEKS

  • §110.6. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 4.
  • (b) Knowledge and skills.
  • (3) Listening/speaking/appreciation. The student listens, enjoys, and appreciates spoken language. The student is expected to:
  • (B) describe how the language of literature affects the listener (4-5); and
  • (C) assess how language choice and delivery affect the tone of the message (4-5).

Materials Needed

  •  Poem: Johnny Jones by Susanne Speer (enclosed below)
  • Sheet of paper for each student
  • Pencil

Procedure

Anticipatory Set

  • Ask your class to close their eyes and to pretend for a moment that they are blind.  They have no concept of color, nor have ever seen any.  Describe the colors  blue and red to them, and if you'd like, change the colors to a new, made-up name so students have to guess which color your describing.     
  1. Blue feels like the winter air hitting my face as I ride my bike.
    Blue sounds like ice clinking in the bottom of my glass.
    Blue smells like the sky after a thunderstorm.
    Blue tastes like fresh snow in a snowball fight.     
  2. Red feels as hot as the noon day sun.
    Red smells as fragrant as a rose in bloom.
    Red tastes as spicy as Mom's homemade chili.
    Red sounds as alarming as sirens in the night.     
  •  The teacher will ask the class if anyone can remember what they noticed in common about each of the sentences.  Scaffold responses until students realize you are looking for the vocabulary word simile, as well as it's definition (comparing two things using like or as).  

Modeling

  • Place a copy of the poem “Johnny Jones” on the overhead and read it to the class.  Go through (line by line) with your class underlining each simile.

Johnny Jones, by Susanne A. Speer

Johnny Jones loves to pretend, And Johnny Jones is as fast as the wind.
Jonny Jones sings like a star, and Johnny Jones can run oh-so-far.
Johnny Jones can swim like a fish, and Jonny Jones can make any dish.
Johnny Jones is as smart as my teachers, and Johnny Jones has all the best features.
Johnny Jones can ace any test, and yes, Jonny Jones does everything best.
There is one thing Johnny Jones cannot do…he cannot make all these statements true.
You see, Johnny Jones is actually me, and all these things are what I WISH I could be.
I told you at first that I love to pretend, but truth be told, I am not as fast as wind.
I cannot sing like a star just yet, and run oh-so-far, well, I wouldn’t place bets.
Truth be told, I can’t swim like a fish, and my family knows I can’t make a dish.
My teachers are smart, but me, I am not. My features are ordinary, like it or not.
I can pass most tests, but ace them…rarely. Don’t fret though; it’s not all that scary.
There are some things I can do quite well…I can let my imagination take me away to dwell.
I dream of a place where it rains lemonade, and where trees’ grow fresh money every day!
When I’m in this place I can fly like a bee, yes, this is where I’m totally free.
And if I write my thoughts down as fast as lightening, I can revisit them when reality grows frightening.
You know, one day, I think I’ll take all my thoughts, and guess what, I’ll create one big plot…
I’ll publish the very best story you’ve ever read, and perhaps your children will read it in bed.
Now if this is the case, please, remind them of this: Even if they cannot swim like a fish…
Well they too were blessed with something at birth - their own unique gift, to share with the Earth!

  

Guided Practice

  • Ask the class for examples of how to make each of the following statements more exciting using a simile: 
  1. He runs fast.     
  2. She jumps far.     
  3. They are strong.  
  4. The blanket is soft.   
  5. The light is bright. 
  6. The book was long. 

Independent Practice

  • Have students take out their independent reading books, a sheet of paper, and a pencil.
  • Ask them to copy the title of their book onto their paper to serve as the heading.
  • Explain that you'd like them to search through their IR books for a given amount of time (10-15 min.) and copy as many similes as they can find onto their paper with the page number it can be found on.
  • Set the timer for the given time you've announced, and let students work on their own.
  • Once the timer goes off, have each student pick their favorite simile they've found and share with the class if they so choose. 
  • Collect student's papers to assess for comprehension.

 Side Notes

  • Have students seeking additional challenges write a short paragraph describing their alien, incorporating all the similes they’ve selected.
  • For students requiring additional help, present a pre-selected set of similes, such as “The alien was as tall as a skyscraper and as green as fresh grass”. 
  • You may also choose to merely adjust the number of traits required for either set of students.
 

  Johnny Jones
By Susanne A. Speer


Johnny Jones loves to pretend, And Johnny Jones is as fast as the wind.
Jonny Jones sings like a star, and Johnny Jones can run oh-so-far.
Johnny Jones can swim like a fish, and Jonny Jones can make any dish.
Johnny Jones is as smart as my teachers, and Johnny Jones has all the best features.
Johnny Jones can ace any test, and yes, Jonny Jones does everything best.
There is one thing Johnny Jones cannot do…he cannot make all these statements true.
You see, Johnny Jones is actually me, and all these things are what I WISH I could be.
I told you at first that I love to pretend, but truth be told, I am not as fast as wind.
I cannot sing like a star just yet, and run oh-so-far, well, I wouldn’t place bets.
Truth be told, I can’t swim like a fish, and my family knows I can’t make a dish.
My teachers are smart, but me, I am not. My features are ordinary, like it or not.
I can pass most tests, but ace them…rarely. Don’t fret though; it’s not all that scary.
There are some things I can do quite well…I can let my imagination take me away to dwell.
I dream of a place where it rains lemonade, and where trees’ grow fresh money every day!
When I’m in this place I can fly like a bee, yes, this is where I’m totally free.
And if I write my thoughts down as fast as lightening, I can revisit them when reality grows frightening.
You know, one day, I think I’ll take all my thoughts, and guess what, I’ll create one big plot…
I’ll publish the very best story you’ve ever read, and perhaps your children will read it in bed.
Now if this is the case, please, remind them of this: Even if they cannot swim like a fish…
Well they too were blessed with something at birth - their own unique gift, to share with the Earth!