Figurative language includes the use of similes, metaphors, personification, onomatopeia, imagery, hyperbole, repetition, and other literary devices. Informational writers use figurative language to craft descriptive nonfiction.
Use Journey North News for mentor text activities:
1. Collect and Create
Collect a list of figurative language writing strategies. Encourage students to collect examples of each strategy as they read nonfiction texts. Create a classroom reference chart to showcase the strategies and samples from mentor texts.
2. Make writing strategy toolkits.
Have students create their own Craft Tool Kits and fill them with samples of writing strategies collected from mentor texts. Think about creative ways they can make their kits: digital, portable, durable, fun, and functional.
3. Be on the lookout for samples.
After reading a news update, have students select words, phrases, sentences, sketched ideas, stats, questions and more for their tool kits. What tips and tools did they learn from this mentor text that will help them as readers and writers? Sample leads? similes? quotes?
4. Provide guided practice with journal pages.
Explore journal pages that feature expressive writing opportunities. Showcase them on bulletin boards and use them to create word cards for learning center activities.
Figurative Language:
Try it! Journal Activity:
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