Educational Songs with Free Worksheets
Figurative Language
An engaging rap song for teaching figurative language to students. Includes fun worksheets and multiple versions of the song to assist with scaffolding.
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“Figurative Language” helps students learn about using specific elements of literature. The song covers personification, alliteration, assonance, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, metaphors, and similes, and gives figurative language examples by teaching through music, rhyme, and memorization. The teaching materials, including games and worksheets, help teachers and homeschool parents create lesson plans for the song topics.
This Language Arts song is suitable for teaching writing to advanced elementary school (3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade), middle school, high school, and home school students.
This Language Arts song is suitable for teaching writing to advanced elementary school (3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade), middle school, high school, and home school students.
Chorus
Sometimes what you mean is not exactly what you say
That’s figurative language, using words in different ways
Personification, alliteration, assonance, hyperbole
Onomatopoeia, metaphor, and simile
Verse I
When Sally seems to sit somewhere separate from Sonia,
Or Caleb calls Chris ‘cause he’s coming to California
It’s called alliteration: that’s what occurs
When you got the same sound at the start of every word
But when you’ve got a vowel sound that keeps sounding the same
That’s a figure called assonance, yeah, that’s its name
It’s what I’m trying to define by providing this example
But I cannot deny that assonance can be a handful
Chorus
Verse II
A simile is something that you use to compare
Two unrelated things with an element that’s shared
My mind is like an ocean; it’s as smooth as jazz
But it’s only a simile if it uses “like” or “as”
A metaphor is similar, but watch out!
Be careful ’cause you’ve got to leave “like” and “as” out
My mind is an ocean; my words are a river,
So keep your ears open as I continue to deliver
Chorus
Verse III
Now if the sun’s smiling down, or the boat hugged the shore
That’s personification, nothing less, nothing more
But with a buzz or a ding or a hiss or a roar
That’s onomatopoeia that we’re using for sure
Hyperbole: man, that’s like a million times harder!
Take something true, then exaggerate it way farther
Now you’ve heard this song from beginning to the finish
Now you’ve got some tools to draw your literary image
Sometimes what you mean is not exactly what you say
That’s figurative language, using words in different ways
Personification, alliteration, assonance, hyperbole
Onomatopoeia, metaphor, and simile
Verse I
When Sally seems to sit somewhere separate from Sonia,
Or Caleb calls Chris ‘cause he’s coming to California
It’s called alliteration: that’s what occurs
When you got the same sound at the start of every word
But when you’ve got a vowel sound that keeps sounding the same
That’s a figure called assonance, yeah, that’s its name
It’s what I’m trying to define by providing this example
But I cannot deny that assonance can be a handful
Chorus
Verse II
A simile is something that you use to compare
Two unrelated things with an element that’s shared
My mind is like an ocean; it’s as smooth as jazz
But it’s only a simile if it uses “like” or “as”
A metaphor is similar, but watch out!
Be careful ’cause you’ve got to leave “like” and “as” out
My mind is an ocean; my words are a river,
So keep your ears open as I continue to deliver
Chorus
Verse III
Now if the sun’s smiling down, or the boat hugged the shore
That’s personification, nothing less, nothing more
But with a buzz or a ding or a hiss or a roar
That’s onomatopoeia that we’re using for sure
Hyperbole: man, that’s like a million times harder!
Take something true, then exaggerate it way farther
Now you’ve heard this song from beginning to the finish
Now you’ve got some tools to draw your literary image
Reading
Kidskonnect.comFigurative Language
This site has a chart of figurative language definitions and links to other resources.
Frostfriends.org
Figurative Language
Using examples from Robert Frost’s poetry, this website provides detailed information about various forms of figurative language.
Lesson Plans & Activities
ABCTeach.com
Baseball Similes
This worksheet explains the set-up of a simile and then asks students to create their own about baseball.
Hyperboles (PDF)
This worksheet teaches students about using hyperboles to make writing more amusing.
Personification
This worksheet gives students practice in using personification.
Similes
This worksheet allows students to practice using similes.
What’s a Euphemism? (PDF)
This worksheet teaches students how to exchange simple phrases for clever euphemisms.
Educationworld.com
Fear Factor Fun
Students are asked to write descriptions to “Fear Factor” stunts they create in the hopes of grossing out other students. It teaches them to use figurative language in an effective way.
Grades 3-5 and 6-8
Poetry Shopping Spree
Students “shop” for poems that provide examples of literary elements/devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, imagery, or onomatopoeia.
Grades 6-8 and 9-12
Snowy Similes
This activity asks students to create picture booklets using as many similes as possible.
Grades 3-5. 6-8
Harris Middle School
Alliteration Lesson Plan and Resources
This website provides several ideas for classroom activities about alliteration, as well as links to other resources. Lots of good examples to use. Two levels.
Grades 4-6, and 7-12
Descriptive Words
This activity encourages students to describe phrases in creative ways that they would not normally think of. Fun page! Versatile and useful.
Grades 4-12
Imagery
Students are asked to identify imagery within a poem, and then to write their own poems using creative imagery.
Grades 7-12
Personification Lesson Plans and Resources
This website recommends numerous activities for teaching personification. Different activities for upper elementary and older students.
Grades 4-6, 7-12
A Simile and Metaphor Sample Lesson Plan
This lesson plan teaches students to identify and create similes and metaphors. Adaptable for many grades and classes. Poetry is used
Grades 5-12
Website: Mr. Donn’s Language Arts
Figurative Language Lesson Plans & Activities
This site features lesson plans, activities, quizzes and links to other resources about figurative language. Uses power point and other devices. Be sure to scroll down the whole page.
Grades 3-12
