TP-14.4

7 Spot examples There are two ways you could do this. One is to find a suitable text and get pupils to underline examples of similes and metaphors, ideally in different colours to show they can identify both sorts. Alternatively, get children to read each other’s work and act as a critical friend. If they feel that their partner’s simile or metaphor doesn’t work or could be improved, challenge them to make a suggestion of their own. 8 Encourage good choices The trick with similes and metaphors is finding a common feature between the thing you are describing and the one you are comparing it with. However, the skill is in choosing the right feature and comparison. Remember, the whole point is to provide descriptions that create accurate or vibrant pictures in the reader’s mind. It’s no good comparing things that are so similar that it adds nothing. For example, “The wizard’s wand was like a short, straight stick.” Yes, we know. Equally, using a comparison that is too contrived or makes no sense will only confuse the reader. “The wizard’s wand was a horizon of wood,” does not enhance clarity, no matter how straight both concepts are. Similarly, “The wizard’s wand was like about nine used matches laid end on end, carefully glued together,” does nothing to help our mental images of a wand. 9 Avoid cliches This is not necessarily as easy as it sounds. Just because you’ve heard something before doesn’t mean that it should be discounted. Perhaps the best thing to do is go back to the OED definition of cliche: “a phrase or idea that has been used so often that it is no longer interesting or effective”. For example, I would suggest that “a blanket of snow” is still effective, even though it has been used extensively. “As good as gold,” on the other hand, is probably a cliche, not least because gold is not obviously connected with goodness. Moreover, a capable writer would probably have found a more interesting adjective than ‘good’ in the first place. TP Sue Drury is a teacher and resources creator at Plazoom. TEACH READ I NG & WR I T I NG www.teachwire.net | 55 “There’s nothing like having to explain something to see whether you have properly understood it yourself ” Get a conversation started in your classroom with these attractive poster resources. Featuring speech bubbles around a fun image, they give strong examples that really emphasise the difference between similes and metaphors, while throwing in personification for good measure. There are also blank balloon templates so you can use pupils’ own ideas or add to the existing examples. Download from Plazoom at tinyurl.com/ plazoomposters These writing review worksheets are an excellent way to revise and practise using metaphors and similes. They contain examples of metaphors and similes and five different challenges which can be used during one lesson or spread over a number of teaching sessions. Questions encourage creative responses as well as revision, and include interesting images to stimulate ideas. Download from Plazoom at tinyurl.com/ plazoommetaphors and tinyurl.com/ plazoomsimiles RESOURCES TOHELP @plazoomshop plazoom.com