Simile and Metaphor Poetry Set

Simile and Metaphor Poetry Set

Studying similes and metaphors can be tricky, especially for students who have limited experience with figurative language or who are learning about it for the first time.  This resource is intended to support all students learning about figurative language.  Students will use similes and metaphors to create a poem about any topic they choose.  You can require very basic similes and metaphors or more detailed and descriptive ones.  You can get yours at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store or click on any of the links or the picture below.

  I've included the following resources in this product:

· Teacher Information and Directions

This includes a general overview, objectives, and directions.

· Posters for Simile and Metaphor

One poster for each with examples and graphics

· Writing Organizers/Idea Webs

There is a blank copy and a copy that tells what should go in each space.

· Examples of Organizer and Completed Poem

These are my examples that I use to model the process and final product.

· Student Rubric

You can use this of you want to grade the poem.  It includes areas for ideas, organization, imagery, and conventions.

· Writing Paper

 There are 5 pages of decorative paper if you want to have students write their poems on them.

FREE Writing Center to Celebrate

That's right...FREE!  No strings attached either.  I have recently made a Teachers Pay Teachers Store milestone, and I am celebrating and thanking all of my wonderful buyers and loyal followers.  For the next week, I will be offering one of my best selling Writing Centers for FREE.  It's called Are You Kidding Me? and is based off of the game Would You Rather?  It includes student directions, a planner, choice cards, a rubric, and writing paper.  It's a lot of fun for a range of grade levels.  You can get it here.  (Please remember copyright rules still apply.  If you have a friend or colleague who would also like this, they must visit my store and download their own set.)  I appreciate the referrals and any feedback you have.  This activity is one of four in a writing center bundle that I have in my store. 

Being part of the Teachers Pay Teachers community has been an amazing ride, and I have been rejuvenated as a teacher and as a person.  My students benefit so much as well, as I am constantly reflecting on every lesson or activity, new or old, to think about how to make it better. 

If you don't follow me on TpT, please consider.  My store name is Keep Calm and Teach.  I will be launching a surprise week of deals and steals in October, and being a follower will provide you with all of the information you'll need to get these great deals. 

Writing Centers

On Sale Now...

 

 

This set of 4 Upper Elementary Writing Centers is now on sale.   Writing is always tricky in the upper elementary and middle school grades because students often see it as a daunting task.  These centers are fun, differentitated, and engaging.  Each of them comes with a pre-writing organizer and a rubric.  There are even several pages of decorative writing paper included. 

 

Centers included are:

- Are You Kidding Me?  (based on the activity Would You Rather...)

- R.A.F.T.

- Let Me Help You With That

- Picture Prompts

 

I have used them as whole class and intervention activities also.  Click below to preview the set.  Enjoy!

 



Writing Center: Would You Rather...?

I have to admit that I really didn't do much with literacy centers until about 5 years ago.  Up until then, it was something that always seemed more "primary" than "intermediate" elementary. 

BOY WAS I WRONG!!!!  Centers are what keep me sane (minus the planning and organizing of them).  My students love them, and they have really helped to keep my students engaged, on task, and have allowed them to really take a concept that we have learned and expand it.

So, I created some writing centers.  The one that I'd like to share today is called "Are You Kidding Me?"  It's based off of the game Would You Rather?

I created some of my own Would You Rather Cards and even bought the card game.  I laminated them, cute them out and out them in a tin can,.  Easy so far....

Then came the more difficult part- what do I want the outcome to be for my students?

I developed a planner/organizer in which students have to choose which item they would rather do (for example- Would you rather wear boots all summer or sandals all winter?).  They have to write down their choice and think of three reasons why they chose this.  Then, they have to list three details to defend each reason.  So, it became an expository/persuasive type or writing.  I created and gave them a rubric so they could do the next step- the official writing!

This is what amazed me.  I was so shocked at the increadible writing that they did.  Some used humor, some were extremely serioius, and some were a combination of both.  They were so fun to read a share with each other. 

So, I am now trying this with only 6 days left of school, and becuase of the timing I have to spruce it up a bit.  Today, students paired up, and went through the cards until they found one that they disagreed on.  Then, they started their organizers.  We will start the writing tomorrow with the editing and final copies to follow next week.  The new part of the assignment is that they will have to convince the rest of the class that their opinion is the more desireable one.  They will present their writing to the class, and the students will vote for which person convinced them the most.  This is definitely more persuasive writing than expository.  I'm excited to see how it turns out.  They could't stay quiet today becuase they kept telling each other why their choice was better. 

If you'd like to check out these materials, click here.

Click here to preview an entire set of writing centers.



Upper Elementary Writing Centers with Rubrics, Organizer, and Writing Paper

R.A.F.T. Writing Activity



Today, we tried something new (not the jicama that we had for snack either)!  We tried a variation of the R.A.F.T. writing strategy.  Traditionally, this is an activity done to get students to write an original piece of writing from a specific perspective, for a certain purpose, to a specific audience, and about a specific topic.  It is really great for practicing the word choice trait.  However, this is a spin (on pun intended) on the traditional version.

I turned it into a game.  Each letter in RAFT  (Role, Audience, Format, and Topic) has its own spinner with 8 different options on each.  This allows for lots of different variations in writing.  You could also use less spinners if you know that students must write about a specific topic of in a specific format.  There are options for students to choose their own elements too. 

After students spin the spinners, they use the brainstorming organizer to write down any ideas they have about how to combine the elements to create a piece of writing.  It was really neat to have the kids work together.  They came up with some creative ideas.

Today, the kids spun to find their elements, completed their organizers, and started their drafts.  They're off to a wonderful start.  I'm excited to see (and share) their final pieces. 



Everardo and Nayeli give the spinner a go and start their assignment.

 

Odalys and Emely take turns deciding their R.A.F.T. fate.  Great job working together, Ladies!

 

Alyssa, Kat, and Rey are busy organizing their thoughts. 

 

Melissa, Senia, and Camila make a great R.A.F.T. team!

This is a great way to introduce this strategy before having students choose all elements on their own. I use it as a writing center after students learn how to do it.  Click here to get your own set of materials.