Learning Activity

Spooky Tales of 5th Grade-Part 1: Personification

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

5

Overview

Students will watch a video about personification. Students will identify examples of personification in the video and interpret their meaning. Students will write their own examples of personification using a Google Slideshow provided by the teacher.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

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

Before/Engage
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Students will locate personification and interpret its meanings in context.
  • Students will write examples of personification.

Activity Details

1. Review the definition of personification--a form of figurative language used to give objects or ideas human-like abilities, qualities, or characteristics. 

2. Students will get out a sheet of paper. Tell the students they will watch a video about personification. As they watch the YouTube video, they will write down examples of personification on their paper. 

3. Play the video. Pause the video periodically so the students can write down examples of personification without being rushed.

4. After the video, allow students to share examples of personification they identified in the video. As you review these examples, discuss the meaning of each personification. For example, "The flowers danced in the wind" means the flowers moved together as the wind blew. Ask the students, "Why would an author use personification in a story?"

5. Next, students will open the Google Slide titled "Spooky Tales of 5th Grade." Tell students they are going to complete slides 2 and 3. They will use the non-human objects given and type their own example of personification. Give students some time to work independently. As students work, the teacher will walk around the room to answer questions and informally assess student understanding.

6. Students will share and discuss their examples of personification with a partner. Then discuss some examples they came up with as a class. Ask the students, "How could using personification help you write a good spooky story?" Discuss student responses.

7. Students will submit their Google Slides.

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will review the personification Google Slides the students submitted. The teacher is looking to see if the student gave the non-human objects human-like abilities, qualities, or characteristics. 

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

The teacher will preview the YouTube video about personification.

The teacher will upload the Google Slide to the digital learning platform used by the students (Google Classroom, Schoology, etc.). 

Students will need paper and pencils.

Digital Tools / Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqBZMR83wCg

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

tmasuoka
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