South Dakota ELA 8.L.5.a

ELA8th GradeLanguage

The Standard

8.L.5: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Interpret figures of speech (e.g., verbal irony, puns).

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use context to work out what a speaker means when the words are not literal. They explain the two meanings in a pun and use clues to recognize verbal irony.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why “Great, another test” means the opposite when a character groans at a surprise quiz. They can find both meanings of “dough” in a bakery joke and explain why the line is funny.
Common Misconceptions: Students may take an ironic compliment at face value and miss clues like a groan or a bad outcome. They may call any funny line a pun, even when no word has two meanings or sounds like another word.
How to Assess It: Give students these lines: After her umbrella breaks in the rain, Mia says, “Perfect weather for a walk.” A baker says, “I need more dough.” Ask students to explain what each speaker could mean and which clues helped them.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a card reading “Nice weather” and a photo of a downpour; have them write what the speaker really means.
Ask how “Nice job” changes meaning when a teammate catches a ball instead of dropping it.
Play a pun match game: students pair cards for “bark,” “sole,” and “dough” with two meanings each.
Show a grocery ad reading “Lettuce save you money”; ask students to explain the wordplay and why the store used it.

Free download