CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4

ELA3rd GradeCraft and Structure

The Standard

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literature

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use nearby details to work out what unfamiliar words and phrases mean in a story. They decide whether language means exactly what it says or suggests another meaning.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students explain an unfamiliar word or phrase using details from the passage. They tell whether a phrase describes something exact or expresses an intended meaning.
Common Misconceptions: Students may read every phrase word for word, so “hold your horses” sounds like handling animals. They may also guess from one word instead of checking the surrounding sentences.
How to Assess It: Give students: “After winning the race, Mia was on top of the world.” Ask what the phrase means, whether it is literal, and which clue supports the answer.

Lesson moves

Give pairs phrase cards and picture cards; students match each phrase to its literal or intended meaning, then underline supporting clues.
Read “The classroom was a zoo” and ask students to write what happened, then cite one clue supporting their meaning.
Play Context Clue Detective: teams read short passages, choose a meaning, label it literal or nonliteral, and explain their clue.
Collect sayings from signs, songs, or family conversations, then have students explain what each speaker really means.

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