Lesson #1 of 1___ Grade Level: 3rd

Central Focus Literal and Nonliteral Words and Phrases

3R4: Determine the meaning of words, phrases, figurative language, and

academic and content-specific words. (RI&RL)
Standard
3L5a: Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and
phrases in context (e.g., take steps).

Learning Students will be able to identify nonliteral phrases by pointing out how
Objective absurd and unlikely it’ll happen in real life.

Promethean Board, Google Slides, Literal and Nonliteral Worksheet,

Materials Prepared sentence starters, Copy of It’s Halloween, I’m Turning Green by
Dan Gutman

The purpose of learning literal and nonliteral words and phrases is that it
helps develop students’ vocabulary knowledge. Exposure to nonliteral
Purpose
language teaches students new vocabulary like idioms, metaphors, and
similes.

Hook the students in by asking if they’ve ever heard of the phrase, “It’s
raining cats and dogs!” Ask them what they think the phrase means and
explain that it is a nonliteral phrase.

Explain the definition of literal and nonliteral language. Literal is the plain,
direct meaning while nonliteral is a figurative or symbolic meaning.
Clarify what each phrase means. Give some examples of common literal
Explicit
and nonliteral phrases listed in the Google Slides. Ask the class if the
Instruction
phrase, “I’m on top of the world” is literal and nonliteral. Then ask the
students to do a turn and talk about what the phrase might mean. Do this
with “Break a leg” and “Her smile is as bright as the sun.”

When the class is done with discussing examples, pass out the Literal and
Nonliteral Worksheet. Start the read aloud of the book, It’s Halloween, I’m
Turning Green by Dan Gutman.
 After the read aloud, have them complete the worksheet individually.

Learning Task Students will complete the worksheet individually.

Closing /
To end the lesson, have students explain what literal and nonliteral means.
Debrief

Students’ participation in the lesson activity

Assessments
Literal and Nonliteral Worksheet

Students will be given sentence starters in order to complete the writing

Differentiation
prompt on the worksheet.

Academic
literal, nonliteral, phrase, figurative
Language