Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs
A 40-minute Grade 4 lesson on figurative language, idioms, adages and proverbs, and on antonyms and synonyms.
Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs is a free 40-minute Grade 4 English lesson plan for Common Core standard L.4.5 — explain similes, metaphors, idioms, proverbs, antonyms and synonyms. 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 4
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- L.4.5
Grade 4 · Language
L.4.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Objective
Students will be able to explain a simile or metaphor by naming what is being compared to what, and why.
Students are successful when they can
- Names both things compared.
- Names the shared quality.
- Explains an idiom or proverb.
What you need
- Figurative sentences
- Idiom and proverb cards
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — simile or metaphor?
5 min- Sort six sentences. 'Like' or 'as' makes a simile.
- Convert two similes into metaphors.
Teach — name the shared quality
13 min- Take a metaphor. Name thing one and thing two.
- Ask what they share. That quality is the whole point of the comparison.
- Show a comparison where the shared quality is unclear. It fails.
- Do a proverb: say what it claims in plain words.
- Say the difference from an idiom: a proverb gives advice, an idiom just means something.
“Two things and one shared quality. Name all three or you have not explained it.”
Guided practice — explain six
12 min- Pairs explain three comparisons naming all three parts.
- They explain two idioms and one proverb in plain words.
- They convert one metaphor into a simile and compare.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the figurative-language page.
- It mixes all four kinds.
Close
2 min- Take one metaphor and its shared quality.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Says a metaphor means the two things are the same.
Why: It says one IS the other.
Fix: Name the shared quality. That is what is being claimed, not identity.
Explains an idiom by describing it literally.
Why: The literal image is vivid.
Fix: Ask what a speaker means by it. Idioms are used, not pictured.
Confuses proverbs with idioms.
Why: Both are fixed phrases with non-literal meanings.
Fix: A proverb advises. Ask what it tells you to do.
If they are not there yet
- Similes only.
- Give the shared quality options.
If they finish early
- Find a metaphor with two shared qualities.
- Write a proverb for a situation in a story.
- Explain why a metaphor works better than the plain statement.
Exit ticket
'The classroom was a zoo.' What two things, and what do they share?
What to look for: All three named. Two things with no shared quality means the explanation is incomplete.
Printable practice for L.4.5
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Similes, Metaphors and IdiomsTick the right answer.
Questions about Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs
How long does the Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs 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 Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.5 — L.4.5, Language for Grade 4: “Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.” In plain terms, explain similes, metaphors, idioms, proverbs, antonyms and synonyms.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Figurative sentences, idiom and proverb cards 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: says a metaphor means the two things are the same; explains an idiom by describing it literally and confuses proverbs with idioms. 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: “'The classroom was a zoo.' What two things, and what do they share?.” All three named. Two things with no shared quality means the explanation is incomplete. 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 Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs?
Yes — 1 printable L.4.5 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 Similes, Metaphors, Idioms and Proverbs 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.4.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.