I’m not a fan of “teaching to the test” but it is a known fact that when students are able to correctly use figurative language in their essays, their writing scores move up a level. The more students work with idioms in isolation, the easier it will be for them to begin using them in their writing and speaking. These books might be mini – but there is lots of learning in each book. This draws their attention to the idiom and gives them time to process its meaning before trying to use it in their speech or writing that day. If you have an “Idiom of the Day” this makes a great morning work or bell ringer activity for your students to start class.
As students learn to visualize the literal words, they gain a better understanding of what makes figurative language a useful tool in reading and writing. Games are a fantastic way to engage students in learning. Introduce the visualization of idioms with a Pictionary style game. This is one activity your students will LOVE and it is a great way to connect the reading skill of visualization to idioms. What makes idioms so fun and funny is that we tend to visualize the literal meaning of the idioms. In order for the class to learn more idioms you can make it a game where students cannot share an idiom that has already been shared. Once this activity is done, have students choose their favorite idiom to share with the class. Here a few sites that your students might find helpful: There are lots of great site about the English language that cover idioms. The goal here is to expose students to more idioms and their meaning. If students can’t think of additional idioms on their own, encourage them to use the internet. This activity helps students to see how idioms are used in real life. Students can also look for idioms in books they are reading or listen for them in conversations with family and friends. Idiom HuntĪfter students are introduced to the concept of idioms and have had some practice recognizing them and their meanings, challenge students to write down additional idioms that they have heard or used. There are sure to be laughs and giggles as students try to answer questions and participate in class discussions while trying to weave the idiom into the conversation! 2.
Then challenge students to try to use the idiom some time during the day in their speaking or writing. Write an idiom on the board and take time to discuss the meaning. Or allow students to work in pairs or small groups to see if they can complete the entire list.Īs you begin learning about idioms, it is also fun to start “Idiom of the Day” in the classroom.
You can use this activity like a game and set a time limit for students to match as many idioms as they can. It is fun to let students start by trying to match the meaning of idioms they may have heard before or even used. Here students can work to identify the meaning of a variety of common idioms. This idiom match is a great activity to do as you introduce the topic. It’s catchy and engaging and with a little practice your students just might sing along! This video is a great introduction to idioms! You might even find yourself playing it over and over again throughout your unit. By being exposed to lots of examples, students are able to understand the concept of an idiom. Idiom MatchĪ great place to start introducing your students to idioms is by explaining what an idiom is, and then diving into lots and lots of examples. Here’s some fun idiom activities that your upper elementary students will love! 1. The proper use of idioms can elevate the quality of writing too! They are a great way to add voice and interest to writing too. Once students know and understand idioms they love using them in their speech and writing. That’s why explicit instruction on idioms is necessary. Teaching idioms is a lot of fun because the play on words is down right silly sometime! But some students have a difficult time understanding the meaning of idioms or using them correctly.
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