Learning Activity

What's YOUR Metaphor?

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

4, 5

Overview

Flipgrid is an online resource that allows students to produce a video recording in response to a particular topic and then share it with teachers and classmates.

This activity gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of metaphor in a personal way. Students will reflect on their personal traits/characteristics, brainstorm an animal, object, etc, that shares similar qualities and write a speech about their chosen metaphor. Then they will perform, record, and share their speeches with the teacher and classmates through the online tool, Flipgrid.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 4

ELA21.4.10

Interpret words and phrases, including figurative language, as they are used in a text.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.4.10

Vocabulary

  • Interpret
  • Figurative language

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Strategies to identify word meaning in context.
  • Figurative language is a creative way to use words and phrases beyond their literal definition to explain or describe something.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Explain the meaning of words and phrases that are specific to the text.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Words and phrases, including figurative language, can have different meanings in different texts.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 5

ELA21.5.12

Interpret the meaning of words, phrases, and patterns as they are used in texts, including domain-specific and academic vocabulary and figurative language.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.5.12

Vocabulary

  • Domain-specific vocabulary
  • Academic vocabulary
  • Figurative language

Knowledge

Student know:
  • Academic vocabulary is language that is more formal than spoken language.
  • Domain-specific vocabulary refers to words that are used specifically in school subject areas, like math, science, and social studies.
  • Figurative language is a creative way to use words and phrases beyond their literal definition to explain or describe something.
  • Strategies to determine the meaning of words, phrases, and patterns in text.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Interpret the meaning of domain-specific vocabulary, academic vocabulary, and figurative language as they are used in texts.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are multiple strategies they can use to interpret the meaning of academic and domain-specific vocabulary, including using context clues in the text, their background knowledge, the morphological structure of the word, and outside resources.
  • Words and phrases, including figurative language, can have different meanings in different texts.

Phase

After/Explain/Elaborate
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

I can create a metaphor to represent myself based on my personality traits.

I can write a short speech that presents a topic statement, gives supporting details, and has a logical conclusion.

I can speak clearly and with appropriate tone, volume, pace, inflection, and eye contact.

Activity Details

This activity makes for a fun way for students to make introductions and get to know one another. It would be appropriate after a class discussion on figurative language, in particular metaphors.  Here are some examples if needed.

  •  Students brainstorm something that could represent them as a metaphor and think of three reasons why. Use this What's YOUR Metaphor worksheet.
  • Once students have decided on a metaphor, have them draw (or print) it on one index card. Write their name on a second index card. Then "sandwich"  a craft stick between the two cards, with the drawing and the student's name showing on either side and tape together. Clip the end of the craft stick into a clothespin so the nameplate "stands up". Alternately, you could have them make a "tent" style nameplate with stiff paper or tag board.
  • After students have made their nameplates, review with them qualities of a good oral presentation (eye contact, appropriate pace, tone, volume inflection, etc.). The teacher may want to model this or record their own Flipgrid video to use as a model.
  •  Direct students to the Flipgrip link, or open the app if using iPads or devices.  The students use a code to access your grid. Have them practice recording their personal metaphor speech. They will probably want to do several "takes" before they submit it.  
  • When all the students have submitted their recordings, you can project them for the whole class to watch together, or students can view them on their devices individually.  
Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

A rubric can be used to assess personal metaphor speeches. An example rubric can be found here. Alternatively, Flipgrid has a built-in feedback rubric that teachers can complete for each student submission. The basic rubric rates the student on "Ideas" and "Performance" and provides a box for teachers to input text feedback.  the rubric can also be edited if the teacher wants to make it more specific.

 

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

The teacher needs to set up a free Flipgrid account. After creating an account, set up a class. Add this topic, Personal Metaphors, from the "disco library"  (library of pre-made topics).  

The teacher may want to create his/her own metaphor nameplate as an example and make his/her own personal metaphor speech recording to show the students.

Students will need access to devices that have a camera and microphone.

The teacher will need to provide each student with two index cards and one popsicle stick. 

Digital Tools / Resources

Flipgrid
https://admin.flipgrid.com/manage/discovery/9713?ns=&search=Personal%20Metaphors

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

maandr01
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