#3509. Using Personification

Reading/Writing, level: Middle
Posted Wed Jul 6 01:30:40 PDT 2005 by Debbie Aubert (aubertd@usd287.org).
Williamsburg Schools, Williamsburg, USA
Materials Required: book "The Three Little Pigs," worksheet at end of lesson
Activity Time: 2-3 fifty minute class periods
Concepts Taught: figurative language: personification

Personification Lesson by Debbie Aubert

Kansas State Reading/Writing Standards Addressed: Reading 6.1.3.5 (identifies and determines meaning of figurative language; Writing 6.1.2.13 (practices selecting words that are suitable and precisely create appropriate imagery)

Specific Objectives: The student will:

~tell what personification is

~look at given sentences and describe the object being personified

~write simple sentences using personification

Anticipatory Set: Read the book The Three Little Pigs to the students. After reading the story ask the students to think about the pigs and the wolf and discuss what they do that normal pigs and wolves don't do. Tell them these are examples of personification.

Step by Step Procedure: Day One

1. Read the book The Three Little Pigs to the students as described in the anticipatory set.

2. Write the definition of personification on the board (Personification is giving human characteristics to everyday ideas, objects, and animals.)

3. Re-examine some of the ideas given during the anticipatory set and ask why they are examples of personification.

4. Pass out the handout of sentences containing examples of personification and have students work in cooperative groups. Tell them to underline the object, animal, or idea being personified. They will circle what they're doing that makes it an example of personification.

5. Allow time for students to complete this activity, and then go over each sentence asking different students to give the example of personification in each sentence.

Step by Step Procedure: Day Two

1. Ask students if they remember the definition of personification from yesterday's lesson.

2. Begin writing nouns on the chalkboard such as monkey, tree, wind, snow, sky, leaf. Ask students to help you expand this list until you have about 20 nouns on the board. In another column on the board, write some verbs such as whispered, smiled, laughed. Ask students to also help you expand this list until you have about 20 verbs.

3. Tell students that they're going to write ten of their own sentences using personification. You will write a couple of examples on the board such as: The leaf danced across the sky on its journey away from the tree .

4, Remind them to make use of prepositional phrases, adjective, adverbs, and other parts of speech learned to make their sentences exciting. Let students share their work if they wish to.

Independent Practice:

Students will write ten sentences as described in Day 2 Step by Step Procedure.

Closure: At the end of day 2, ask students if they have any questions about personification. Ask someone to once again give the definition of personification. Ask students if they liked hearing the sentences that their classmates wrote, and then ask them why. Tell them that using figurative language like personification helps to make our writing much more fun to read.

Assessment: none required until the end of the figurative language unit

Modifications: The number of sentences could be cut down for those students that need modification, as it's the quality we're looking for, not the quantity. Other modifications could be made if required by an IEP.

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Personification Worksheet

Name_________________________________

Directions: Underline the idea, object, animal being personified and circle what they're doing that makes it an example of personification.

1. The sun danced across the sky on the hot summer day.

2. The big full moon guided me through the forest.

3. The mountain listened to the rumbles beneath its surface.

4. As the rain pounded to the ground, everyone ran for cover.

5. The old man sat at the edge of the sea as the waves crashed on the shore.

6. The old car groaned as it made its way down the long open road.

7. The wind whispered lonely sounds as it blew through the old creaky windows.

8. The leaves raced to the ground as the children ran across the playground.

9. The pencil moaned as the boy turned the handle on the pencil sharpener.

10. The tornado pranced across the field and wiped away everything in its path.