Literal, Figurative and Word Relationships
A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on distinguishing literal from figurative meanings and on the shades between related words.
Literal, Figurative and Word Relationships is a free 40-minute Grade 3 English lesson plan for Common Core standard L.3.5 — understand literal and non-literal meanings, and shades of meaning. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 3
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- L.3.5
Grade 3 · Language
L.3.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
Objective
Students will be able to distinguish literal from figurative use and place related words by degree of certainty or intensity.
Students are successful when they can
- Identifies a figurative use.
- Places related words on a scale.
- Connects a word to a real-life situation.
What you need
- Sentence cards with both kinds of use
- Word sets: knew, believed, suspected, guessed
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — same word, two uses
5 min- Give one word used literally and figuratively in two sentences.
- Ask what changed. Not the word.
Teach — certainty is a scale too
13 min- Sort four sentences into literal and figurative.
- Then take the word set and place it on a certainty scale.
- Ask what 'suspected' claims that 'guessed' does not.
- Put each into a real situation where only that one is right.
- Say the connection: figurative language and shades of meaning are both about words carrying more than their definition.
“'I knew' and 'I guessed' are both true statements. They claim completely different things.”
Guided practice — sort and scale
12 min- Pairs sort six sentences and place one word set on a scale.
- They write a situation for the two ends of the scale.
- They find one sentence that could be read either way.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the word-relationships page.
- It mixes both halves of the standard.
Close
2 min- Give a situation. Take the word from the set that fits.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Treats certainty words as interchangeable.
Why: All four can fill the same slot grammatically.
Fix: Situations where only one is honest. Certainty is a claim, and claims can be wrong.
Reads a figurative phrase literally.
Why: Every word is known.
Fix: Ask whether it could actually be true. If not, the meaning has moved.
Says a figurative phrase 'means nothing really'.
Why: It is not literally true, so it feels empty.
Fix: Ask for the intended meaning in plain words. Figurative language means something specific.
If they are not there yet
- Three words on the scale rather than four.
- Give the sort.
If they finish early
- Find a word that is both certain and figurative.
- Order a set of six by intensity.
- Write a sentence where the wrong certainty word would be dishonest.
Exit ticket
Order these by certainty: guessed, knew, suspected. Which fits 'I saw it happen'?
What to look for: A correct order and 'knew'. Interchangeable treatment means the situations exercise needs repeating.
Printable practice for L.3.5
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Literal and NonliteralTick the right answer.
Questions about Literal, Figurative and Word Relationships
How long does the Literal, Figurative and Word Relationships lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Literal, Figurative and Word Relationships teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.5 — L.3.5, Language for Grade 3: “Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.” In plain terms, understand literal and non-literal meanings, and shades of meaning.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Sentence cards with both kinds of use, word sets: knew, believed, suspected, guessed and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: treats certainty words as interchangeable; reads a figurative phrase literally and says a figurative phrase 'means nothing really'. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Order these by certainty: guessed, knew, suspected. Which fits 'I saw it happen'?.” A correct order and 'knew'. Interchangeable treatment means the situations exercise needs repeating. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Literal, Figurative and Word Relationships?
Yes — 1 printable L.3.5 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Literal, Figurative and Word Relationships free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to L.3.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.