Figurative Language | Parent Activity

Dear Families,

Your child is learning to identify and explain figurative language—creative expressions like similes, metaphors, and personification. On the FAST test, students must recognize these types AND explain what they mean. The good news? Figurative language is everywhere—in songs, books, and everyday conversations!

Simile"fast like lightning"

Metaphor"you are a star"

Personification"the sun smiled"

Hyperbole"a million times"

Alliteration"silly Sally sings"

Onomatopoeia"buzz, pop, crash"

🎵

Activity 1: Song Detectives

Find figurative language in music

Listen to your child's favorite songs together.
When you hear creative language, pause and ask: "What did that mean?"
Identify the type: Is it a simile (like/as)? Metaphor? Hyperbole?
Discuss: "Why did the songwriter use those words?"

Common Examples:
"You are my sunshine" = Metaphor
"I've told you a thousand times" = Hyperbole
"Float like a butterfly" = Simile

📚

Activity 2: Bedtime Book Hunt

Spot figurative language during reading time

During bedtime reading, watch for figurative language.
When you find one, ask your child: "What type is this?"
Ask: "What does the author REALLY mean?"
Keep a tally—how many did you find in one book?

Picture books are great for this!
Authors often use personification (the wind whispered), similes (soft as silk), and onomatopoeia (splash! bang!) to make stories vivid.

✏️

Activity 3: Create Together

Make up your own figurative language

Pick a topic (the weather, a pet, dinner, etc.).
Challenge each other to describe it using different types:
- Simile: "The pizza is as ___ as ___."
- Personification: Give it a human action!
- Hyperbole: Make it super exaggerated!
Draw a picture of what your figurative language would look like if it were literal (e.g., raining cats and dogs).

Figurative Language You Probably Use Every Day!

"I'm starving!" = Hyperbole (you're very hungry, not actually starving)
"It's raining cats and dogs" = Idiom/Hyperbole
"She has a heart of gold" = Metaphor
"The car coughed and sputtered" = Personification
"Time flies" = Metaphor/Personification
"Busy as a bee" = Simile

Questions to Ask About Figurative Language

"What does the author REALLY mean by that?"
"Is this meant to be taken literally, or is it figurative?"
"What two things are being compared?"
"Is there a 'like' or 'as'? (Simile vs. Metaphor)"
"Why did the author choose to say it this way?"
"Can you say this in a different, more creative way?"

Resumen en Espanol

Lenguaje figurado: Su hijo esta aprendiendo a identificar y explicar expresiones creativas en la lectura.

Los 6 tipos:

Simil: Compara usando "como" ("rapido como el viento")
Metafora: Dice que algo ES otra cosa ("eres una estrella")
Personificacion: Da cualidades humanas a objetos ("el sol sonrio")
Hiperbole: Exageracion extrema ("un millon de veces")
Aliteracion: Repeticion del mismo sonido inicial
Onomatopeya: Palabras que suenan como lo que significan (pum, crac)

Actividades: Busquen lenguaje figurado en canciones, libros y conversaciones diarias.