NY Next Generation ELA 4L5.a

ELA4th GradeDemonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

The Standard

Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors in context.

New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain simple similes and metaphors within their contexts. They identify the compared things and infer the shared quality the author wants readers to notice.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student distinguishes a simile from a metaphor and states the comparison's intended meaning. The explanation names the relevant shared quality and uses contextual support.
Common Misconceptions: Students may repeat the comparison without interpreting it or name any similarity between the two things. They may label every sentence with like or as a simile regardless of purpose.
How to Assess It: Give students one simile and one metaphor in short passages. Ask them to identify the comparison, explain the shared quality, and cite a context clue.

Lesson moves

Use picture pairs and quality cards to build similes and metaphors, then explain the intended shared feature.
Ask, ‘If the classroom is a beehive, which qualities of a beehive does the author mean?’
Play Comparison Match by pairing similes and metaphors with accurate interpretations and rejecting merely possible similarities.
Analyze comparisons in weather reports or sports commentary and explain what each helps the audience picture.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4L5.a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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