ALEX Learning Activity

What's YOUR Metaphor?

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Mary Andrews
System:Lanett City
School:W. O. Lance Elementary
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2363
Title:
What's YOUR Metaphor?
Digital Tool/Resource:
Flipgrid
Web Address – URL:
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.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 4
10. Interpret words and phrases, including figurative language, as they are used in a text.

a. Explain how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

b. Explain how figurative language contributes to the meaning of text, including simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, hyperbole, and idioms.

c. Use the relationships between synonyms, antonyms, and homographs to increase understanding of word meanings.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 4
42. Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes, and speaking clearly with adequate volume, appropriate pacing, and clear pronunciation.

a. Articulate ideas, claims, and perspectives in a logical sequence, presenting information, findings, and credible evidence from multiple sources and modalities to enhance listeners' understanding.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 5
9. Express ideas clearly and effectively to diverse partners or groups.

a. Pose and respond to explicit questions in ways that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.

b. Verbally summarize information read aloud or presented in diverse media and formats.

c. Report orally on a topic or text, sequencing ideas logically and supporting main ideas with appropriate facts and relevant details.

d. Speak clearly at an understandable rate.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 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.

a. Locate similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and idioms and interpret their meanings in context.

b. Explain the meanings of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.

c. Use the relationships between synonyms, antonyms, and homographs to increase understanding of word meanings.

d. Explain how an author's vocabulary and style influence the tone and mood of a text and support his/her purpose for writing.

e. Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meanings of words.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
18. Identify a speaker's correct usage of language, including subject-verb agreement and pronouns.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
26. Utilize research findings to communicate relevant details, opinions, and ideas about a topic or text in oral presentations.

a. Answer questions in discussions about their research findings.
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.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

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:

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.

 
Advanced 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. 
Variation Tips (optional):
 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

When students are recording their videos, the teacher may want to have the students go to a quiet location in the room or just have a few at a time doing the recording, as this activity can get noisy if everyone is recording at the same time.
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: figurative language, metaphor, speaking skills