The author uses many different types of figurative language throughout the story. Some other examples of figurative language that are used are similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, and onomatopoeia. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate three examples of figurative language in A Mango-Shaped Space. Teachers may want to give the students a list of examples, or have them do a “scavenger hunt” either as they read, or as an activity after reading.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a 3 cell storyboard that illustrates and describes three examples of figurative language in the text.
Student Instructions:
Empower students to create original similes, metaphors, and personification after exploring examples from the novel. Writing their own helps deepen understanding and sparks creativity!
Pick a moment from the book and think aloud how to turn it into a simile or metaphor. This shows students how authors use comparisons to make writing vivid!
Ask each student to select something meaningful from the book—like an emotion, color, or scene—and jot it down as the topic of their figurative language.
Have students try writing a simile, metaphor, or personification about their chosen topic. Remind them to use 'like' or 'as' for similes, and to give human traits for personification.
Invite students to read their creations aloud or post them on a class board. Celebrating each other's work builds confidence and reinforces learning!
A Mango-Shaped Space uses figurative language like similes ("as blue as a swimming pool"), personification ("the thunder fills the air with streaks of charcoal-black spirals"), and onomatopoeia ("bubble, bubble, simmer, fizz, and BOOM!"). These devices help readers visualize and feel the story's emotions.
To teach figurative language with A Mango-Shaped Space, have students search for and illustrate examples from the book, discuss their meanings, and identify the type (simile, metaphor, personification, etc.). A storyboard activity helps reinforce understanding through visual learning.
Try a scavenger hunt where students find three examples of figurative language in the text, write what each means, and illustrate them. This promotes close reading and creativity, making abstract language more accessible.
Figurative language in A Mango-Shaped Space helps express emotions, create vivid imagery, and deepen readers' connection to the characters and themes. It brings the protagonist's unique perceptions to life, making the story more engaging.
The novel features similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, and onomatopoeia. Each type adds depth and color to the narrative, helping readers experience the world through the main character’s senses.