FEB5 Figurative Language

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Grade 4 Read/Write

Teacher Facing
February 5, 2025

Unit 5: Poetry: Wondrous Words

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5

Materials

Student

● Notes to go in binder

● My Garden Friend

● Words Free Like Confetti - in Amplify Reader: Personal Narratives

and Poetry

● Response Cards

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7

Do Now

1. Read the sentence and make
any necessary corrections.

My family enjoy going for
vacations together.

2. Read the sentence and make
any necessary corrections.

Hour best trip were traveling to
New York City.

Open Ended

My family enjoy going for vacations together.

Tupe the correct word here.

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Do Now

1. Read the sentence and make
any necessary corrections.

My family enjoy going for
vacations together.

Why did you change enjoy to
enjoys?

I changed enjoy to enjoys because
…

2. Read the sentence and make
any necessary corrections.

Hour best trip were traveling to
New York City.

Open Ended

Why did you change enjoy to
enjoys?

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LO:

SWBAT explain figurative language that the

poet uses to create images using text evidence.

DOL: Given a poem, students will correctly explain
figurative language that the poet uses to create
images using text evidence in at least 4 of 5
questions.

Unit 5: Poetry: Wondrous Words

Ⓢ ELA.4.9B Explain figurative language such as simile, metaphor, and personification that the poet uses to create images.
Ⓡ ELA 4.7C use text evidence to support an appropriate response

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figurative language

(noun)

words or expressions that mean

something different from their

dictionary definitions

Academic Vocabulary

visualize

(noun)

to imagine what something is like by

forming a mental image

Dropdown

​

Select answer

is words or expressions that mean something different from their dictionary definitions while ​

Select answer

means to imagine what something is like by forming a mental image​.

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Hot Question

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Real World Connection

Wishes

Good
Night

Words
Free as
Confetti

Little
Red

Riding
Hood

and the

Wolf

Harlem

My First
Memory

(of

Librarians

)

The New
Colossus

"I Hear
America
Singing"

Paul

Revere's

Ride

Knowledge Objective:

SWBAT analyze different

forms of poetry from a

wide variety of time
periods and diverse

backgrounds.

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Wishes

Knowledge Objective:

SWBAT analyze different

forms of poetry from a

wide variety of time
periods and diverse

backgrounds.

Good
Night

Words
Free as
Confetti

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is a form of literary
expression that
conveys thoughts,
feelings, or ideas in
a creative and
artistic way.

Structure:

★ lines
★ line break
★ stanzas
★ stanza

breaks

Meter pattern:

●rhyme

●rhythm

Uses:

●figurative and descriptive
language

●sound devices

●sensory details

●imagery, etc.

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Elements of Poetry

My Loves

By: Anonymous

I love to see the big white moon,
A-shining in the sky;
I love to see the little stars,
When the shadow clouds go by.

I love the raindrops falling
On my roof-top in the night;
I love the soft wind’s sighing,
Before the dawn’s gray light.

stanza break

line break

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Who writes this genre?

Groups of words/phrases are
called …

Groups of lines are called …

At the end of a line, there is…

At the end of the stanza, there
is

Elements of Poetry

My Loves

By: Anonymous

I love to see the big white moon,
A-shining in the sky;
I love to see the little stars,
When the shadow clouds go by.

I love the raindrops falling
On my roof-top in the night;
I love the soft wind’s sighing,
Before the dawn’s gray light.

stanza
break

line break

stanza
break

line
break

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Who writes this genre?

poet/author

Groups of
words/phrases are
called …

Groups of lines are
called …

At the end of a line,
there is…

At the end of the stanza,
there is

Elements of Poetry

My Loves

By: Anonymous

I love to see the big white moon,
A-shining in the sky;
I love to see the little stars,
When the shadow clouds go by.

I love the rain drops falling
On my roof-top in the night;
I love the soft wind’s sighing,
Before the dawn’s gray light.

Title

Poet

Line

Stanza
break

Stanza

lines

stanzas

line
Break

stanza
break

Line
break

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Types of Poems

Free Verse Poem

★ no set line length
★ no set rhythm
★ no rhythm pattern
★ conveys feelings and ideas

Lyrical Poem

★ expresses strong feelings
★ can rhyme
★ sounds like a song

Humorous Poem

★ is funny
★ can be silly
★ can rhyme

Narrative Poem

★ tells a story
★ can rhyme
★ has characters, setting, and

a plot

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The Mountain Trail

Mist drifted through tall pine trees,
So I followed winding paths with ease.
The stones were smooth beneath my stride,
Like water flowing in a glide.

5 The leaves hummed their gentle song,

While forest whispers led me along.
I climbed until the peak drew near,
Making distance disappear!

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The Mountain Trail

Mist drifted through tall pine trees,
So I followed winding paths with ease.
The stones were smooth beneath my stride,
Like water flowing in a glide.

5 The leaves hummed their gentle song,

While forest whispers led me along.
I climbed until the peak drew near,
Making distance disappear!

“The Mountain Trail” is a ____________ because…

What type of

poem is

“The Mountain

Trail”?

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Types of Language

Literal Language

The use of words,
phrases, and
sentences in their
real or actual sense.

Figurative Language

Language not
intended to be taken
literally but layered
with meaning using
imagery

The classroom was pig pen.

It is a

comparison of

two things

using “like” or

“as.”

Puppy

The puppy runs
Like a bouncy ball,
Zooming around
The living room wall.

It is a direct
comparison

between
two unlike

things.

The Moon

The moon is a nightlight,
Glowing in the dark.
It watches over sleepy
streets,
A guardian in the park.

It is a literary device

where human

qualities, actions, or
emotions are given to

non-human things,
animals, or ideas.

The Storm Cloud

The grumpy cloud
Stomped across the sky,
Shouting thunder
As he marched by.

Let’s
Review!

Simile

It is a

comparison of

two things

using “like” or

“as.”

Puppy

The puppy runs
Like a bouncy ball,
Zooming around
The living room wall.

Metaphor

It is a direct
comparison

between
two unlike

things.

The Moon

The moon is a nightlight,
Glowing in the dark.
It watches over sleepy
streets,
A guardian in the park.

Personification

It is a literary device

where human

qualities, actions, or
emotions are given to

non-human things,
animals, or ideas.

The Storm Cloud

The grumpy cloud
Stomped across the sky,
Shouting thunder
As he marched by.

Let’s
Review!

“Figurative Language” Anchor Chart from HMH – used with permission © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Poet’s use figurative
language in their writing
to…

Why do poets
use figurative
language in
their writing?

A poet’s use of figurative language
helps the reader…

create ________ in their
__________

find ________ meanings by
thinking about _______ the
poet chose those special
words

A poet’s use of figurative language
helps the reader…

create pictures in their
mind

find deeper meanings by
thinking about why the
poet chose those special
words

The Ice Cream Cone

My ice cream drips like melting
snow,
Down the cone and on my hand.
I try to lick it fast, but oh—
It's racing to the sand!

simile

metaphor

personification

What type of figurative

language does the poet use

in this poem?

The poet uses___________ in this poem. I know this because…

Multiple Choice

My ice cream drips like melting
snow,
Down the cone and on my hand.
I try to lick it fast, but oh—
It's racing to the sand!

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

The Ice Cream Cone

My ice cream drips like melting
snow,
Down the cone and on my hand.
I try to lick it fast, but oh—
It's racing to the sand!

simile

metaphor

personification

What type of figurative

language does the poet use

in this poem?

The poet uses___________ in this poem. I know this because…

Type of

Figurative
Language

Image Figurative Meaning

My ice cream

drips like
melting
snow,

simile

Type of

Figurative
Language

Image Figurative Meaning

My ice cream

drips like
melting
snow,

simile

I can imagine the ice

cream is dripping
slowly down the

cone and onto their
hand in a wet, cold

stream.

The poet compares
dripping ice cream to
melting snow to help
readers see and feel
how their cold treat is
slowly sliding away.

My Garden Friend

The oak tree is my umbrella
On hot summer days,
While butterflies dance below
In a rainbow ballet.

5 Its branches wave hello,

Sweet fragrance fills the air.
It's here I spend my time,
My peaceful garden fair.

Type of

Figurative
Language

Image

Figurative Meaning

The oak tree is

my umbrella

_______________

The oak tree spreads out
above like a giant umbrella

giving shade

The poet compares the tree
to an umbrella to show how
it protects and shades them
on summer days

Tree branches

moving as if they're
actually waving to
welcome someone

__________________

Tree branches moving as if
they're actually waving to

welcome someone

The poet makes the tree
seem friendly by giving it the
human action of waving,
making the garden feel more
welcoming.

Type of

Figurative
Language

Image

Figurative Meaning

The oak tree is

my umbrella

metaphor

The oak tree spreads out
above like a giant umbrella

giving shade

The poet compares the tree
to an umbrella to show how
it protects and shades them
on summer days

Tree branches

moving as if they're
actually waving to
welcome someone

personification

Tree branches moving as if
they're actually waving to

welcome someone

The poet makes the tree
seem friendly by giving it the
human action of waving,
making the garden feel more
welcoming.

35

Does anyone know
what this is?

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Words
Free as
Confetti

Readers are expected to…

Preview

1.Read the title

○What may the title mean?

2.Notice…

○any repetitive words, phrases, or structures

3.Number the lines and stanza

1st Read

Read for Comprehension

1.As you read each stanza circle words that you think are
significant.

2.Annotate the poem

○Rhyme scheme

○Literary elements

2nd Read

Read for Interpretation

1.Put everything together:

2.Think…

○what the poet wanted the reader to understand?

○about the message the poet was trying to convey.

3rd Read

Words Free Like Confetti by Pat Mora

Come words, come in your every color
I’ll toss you in storm or breeze.
I’ll say, say, say you,
Taste you sweet as plump plums,
bitter as old lemons,
I’ll sniff you, words, warm
as almonds or tart as apple-red,
feel you green
and soft as new grass,
lightweight as dandelion plumes,
(no stanza break)

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“Words Free as Confetti” Vocabulary

Definition
Examples

Image
Synonym

a feather, either on a bird or,
decoratively, on a woman’s
hat (noun)

feel you green
and soft as new grass,
lightweight as dandelion plumes,

(Amplify Anthology pg. 68)

● feather
● quill

plume

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“Words Free as Confetti” Vocabulary

Definition
Examples

Image
Synonym

tart

Words Free Like Confetti by Pat Mora

continued

or thorngray as cactus,
heavy as cement,
cold blue as icicles,
warm as abuelita’s yellowlap.
I’ll hear you, words, loud as searoar’s
Purple crash, hushed
as gatito scurled in sleep,
as the last gold lullaby.
I’ll see you long and dark as tunnels,
bright as rainbows,
playful as chestnutwind.

I’ll watch you, words, rise and dance and spin.

I’ll say, say, say you

in English,

in Spanish,

I’ll find you.

Hold you.

Toss you.

I’m free too.

I say yo soy libre,

I am free

free, free,

free as confetti

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42

Based on the details in the poem, how do you

think Mora feels about words?

43

Mora feels… because…

Based on the details in the poem, how do you

think Mora feels about words?

“Words Free as Confetti”

Type of Figurative

Language
Image

Figurative Meaning

Taste you sweet as
plump plums,
bitter
simile

words can be sweet or bitter, or sour

I’ll sniff you, words,
warm
as almonds or tart
as apple-red,

simile

I imagine warm almonds giving off a
cozy scent and bright red apples
that taste sour in my mouth.

I imagine sweet, juicy plums and
bitter, sour lemons creating different
tastes in my mouth.

Words can be warm and comforting

I’ll watch you,
words, rise and
dance and spin.

personification

I imagine words floating upward in
the air, twirling and moving around
like dancers on a stage.

words can move freely and
gracefully, suggesting they are alive
and can express themselves through
movement

Multiple Choice

Based on the details throughout the
poem, the reader can create an image of
_______________________________.

• how nature changes through the seasons

• how words can be sensed and experienced

• ways colors create different moods

• how memories connect to emotions

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Based on the details throughout the
poem, the reader can create an image of
_______________________________.

how nature changes through the seasons

how words can be sensed and experienced

ways colors create different moods

how memories connect to emotions

Multiple Choice

Which lines from the poem "Words Free As
Confetti" use figurative language to reveal how
words can be experienced?

... shows how words can be experienced.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Which lines from the poem "Words Free As
Confetti" use figurative language to reveal how
words can be experienced?

A.Come, words, come in your every color.

(line 1)

B.I’ll toss you in storm or breeze. (line 2)

C.I’ll say, say, say you, (line 3)

D.Taste you sweet as plump plums, (line 4)

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Words like confetti.

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Real World Connection

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SCR

Look-fors in SCR responses:
❏ A complete response will provide

one of the possible responses.

❏ Evidence is accurately used to

support the response.

❏ The response and the evidence to

support it are based on the text.

1 point

2 points

How did the author's use of figurative language throughout the poem
help the reader create images about the speaker's relationship with
words? Support your answer using evidence from the text.

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The author's use of figurative language helps readers
picture how the speaker has a close, playful relationship
with words. The author uses similes like "sweet as plump
plums" and "warm as almonds" to show how words can
be tasted and smelled. These examples of figurative
language help readers understand that the speaker
enjoys using words in different ways, just like playing
with confetti.

How did the author's use of figurative language throughout the poem
help the reader create images about the speaker's relationship with
words? Support your answer using evidence from the text.

51

Hot Question

52

DOL: Given a poem,
students will
correctly explain
figurative language
that the poet uses
to create images
using text evidence
in at least 4 of 5
questions.

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