Make a Figures of Speech Book!

As your child becomes a more advanced reader (and writer!) he'll be dealing with more complicated text. Help him get figures of speech (such as similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and personification) down pat. This make-your-own book project is a great start!

What You Need:

• magazine or newspaper

• scissors

• 4 x 6 index cards

• colored pencils

• hole puncher 

• glue stick

• length of yarn about a foot long

What To Do:

Step 1

Go over the key figures of speech with your child. Need a refresher? Here's a cheat sheet:

• Simile—The comparison of two things using "like" or "as". For example, “Those girls are like two peas in a pod”, or “His feet were as big as boats.”

• Metaphor— The comparison of two similar things, not using "like" or "as". For example, "Mom was boiling mad," and "My teacher says our classroom is a zoo."

• Hyperbole— When exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. For example, "I could sleep forever," or "My brother weighs a ton."

• Personification— When inanimate objects are given human qualities. For example, "The ancient car groaned into third gear," or "The tropical storm slept for two days."
   

Step 2

Have your child look through the stack of old magazines and newspapers, armed with a pair of scissors, in search of cool  figures of speech. To keep her from getting overwhelmed, have her search for one figure of speech at a time. Each time she comes across a match, ask her to cut it out.