What Does it Mean Literal Non-Literal Language Activity
This what does it mean literal non-literal language activity has 2nd to 4th grade students sort 16 food sentence cards and explain idioms. A practice page and answer key are included.
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About this resource
Description
When a friend says a test was a piece of cake, nobody brought dessert. This what does it mean literal non-literal language activity helps 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students tell literal language, where the words mean exactly what they say, from non-literal language, where the words mean something different, and then explain what those phrases really mean.
Students read food-themed sentence cards and sort them onto a Literal and Non-Literal mat. Four phrases appear both ways, such as spilled the beans on the kitchen floor and spill the beans about a surprise party, so students must use the whole sentence to decide. Next, they find the eight non-literal cards and write what each one really means on a recording sheet. A 3rd grade practice worksheet with four short stories lets each student choose the true meaning of a food idiom on their own.
What’s Included
- A colorful cover page
- A How to Use page with materials, prep tips and simple steps
- 16 sentence cards on two cut-apart sheets
- A Literal and Non-Literal sort mat
- A recording sheet
- A 3rd grade practice worksheet with four stories
- An answer key for the sort and the meanings, plus the practice answer key
Why This Activity Helps Kids
First, sorting the same phrase two ways shows students that context decides what words mean. Second, explaining a non-literal phrase in their own words builds vocabulary and the reading skill tested on state assessments. Third, the food theme and hands-on sorting make figurative language feel like a game instead of a lesson.
Ideas for Teachers and Parents
Use the cards in a small group, then send the practice page home for review. Invite students to draw one non-literal sentence two ways: what the words say and what they mean. This 2nd grade idioms activity also pairs well with any read-aloud that uses figurative language. Try the what does it mean literal non-literal language activity with the resources below for more practice.
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