Figurative Language Game Card Sorting Activity - Fun Literary Devices Practice
Engage your students in reinforcing their understanding of figurative language with this 100 card interactive sorting activity! Designed to make reviewing literary devices enjoyable and hands-on, this activity gives students the opportunity to practice identifying examples of metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, idiom, pun, and irony. By actively participating in the sorting game, students can solidify their understanding of essential figurative language in a fun and meaningful way.
Included in this Figurative Language Game Card Sorting Activity:
➡️ Figurative Language Card Sorting Activity Teacher Instructions: Use the included teacher instructions to use this resource successfully in your class. Included is a list of ways that you can use these sorting cards in your class.
➡️ Figurative Language Student Reference: Provide students with this half-page handout that includes a definition and example of each type of figurative language to use as a reference as they complete the activity.
➡️ 10 Figurative Language Sorting Mats: These mats offer designated spaces where students will sort sentence cards by their corresponding figurative language type.
➡️ 100 Figurative Language Sentence Sorting Cards: These 100 cards each contain a sentence that clearly illustrates a single type of figurative language. Students will sort the cards onto the corresponding mats based on the type of figurative language they represent. Use all 100 cards, or pick and choose which figurative language types you want to focus on.
➡️ Figurative Language Envelope: An envelope template is provided so students can keep the cards contained and you can keep them organized to reuse them easily from year to year.
➡️ Teacher Answer Keys: Detailed teacher answer keys are included for students to check their work or for the teacher to review the activity with the class.
How the Figurative Language Game Card Sorting Activity Works:
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Divide students into small groups of 3-4 students. Each group will receive the randomized figurative language cards and sorting mats.
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Have students cut out the cards themselves—assign each student one or two pages to cut to share the workload. An envelope template has been provided to keep the cards contained.
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Once all the cards are cut, students will work together to sort them onto the matching figurative language mats.
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After the activity is completed, have students check their work using the included answer keys at the end of this document or review the sentences together as a class.
Sample Sentences From The Figurative Language Game Card Sorting Activity:
Wondering what kinds of sentences are included? Below are some sample sentences for each figurative language type to give you a better idea.
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Metaphor: “The skateboard was a blazing rocket, propelling Brad skyward as he shot off the edge of the half-pipe.”
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Simile: “The yellow taxis darted through the streets of New York like bees zipping from one corner to the next in a frenzy.”
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Personification: “The car crawled up the hill toward the mechanic’s building, its engine complaining as it exhausted the last of its energy.”
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Hyperbole: “After a night of endless studying, Sofia hoisted her thousand-pound book bag onto her shoulders and dragged herself to school.”
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Alliteration: “The snake slowly slithered through the tall grass, its scales sparkling in the sunlight as it moved with graceful precision.”
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Onomatopoeia: “The lightning flashed brightly, thunder following with a deep boom that shook the ground beneath.”
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Oxymoron: “The couple sat at each end of the couch, a deafening silence filling the room as the therapist waited for someone to speak.”
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Idiom: “Jake braced for the impending lecture, fully aware he was in hot water for skipping class for the third time this week.”
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Pun: “Maya sank into the couch, her eyes scanning the pages of the anti-gravity book that she simply could not put down.”
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Irony: “Smoke engulfed the fire station, flames covered the walls as the firefighters hurried to extinguish the blaze.”
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