Playing With Idioms Activity
This playing with idioms activity has 3rd to 5th grade students match idiom cards to their real meanings, draw funny literal pictures and read idioms in stories. An answer key is included.
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About this resource
Description
How to Teach Idioms
The Playing With Idioms Activity helps students understand idioms, the colorful sayings whose real meaning is different from the meaning of each word. When a friend says a test was a piece of cake, there was no cake at all. Students in third, fourth and fifth grade learn to look past the literal words, think about the situation and figure out what the speaker really means.
How to Use the Activity
Cut apart the sixteen idiom cards and sixteen meaning cards, then play a Memory game: lay every card face down, flip two at a time, and keep a pair when an idiom matches the card that tells what it means. Players can also play an idiom talk game, using each idiom in a sentence about their own day. The Draw and Explain sheet lets students draw what four idioms literally say and write what they really mean. A third grade practice worksheet gives four short stories with an idiom in each, and students choose the meaning that fits. This idioms matching game works well in literacy centers, small groups or as a fun review.
What’s Included
- A How to Use page with game steps and an extension idea
- 16 idiom cards and 16 meaning cards for Memory and matching games
- A Draw and Explain sheet for four idioms
- A 3rd grade practice worksheet: idioms in short stories
- Answer keys for the card matches, the Draw and Explain sheet and the practice page
Why This Activity Helps Kids
- Matching cards turns figurative language into a game students want to play again.
- Drawing the literal picture shows why an idiom cannot be read word for word.
- Reading idioms in stories builds the context-clue skills tested in reading.
Ideas for Teachers and Parents
After the playing with idioms activity, post one idiom a day and ask students to use it at lunch or recess. Have partners act out an idiom card while the class guesses the meaning, or keep a class idiom chart and add every new saying students hear in books, shows and conversations.
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