Figurative language adds a descriptive element to text. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon has many examples of figurative language, including similes. In this activity, students can display their understanding of figurative language by identifying the examples from the text and creating a literal or figurative portrayal of the language. Additional types of figurative language include metaphors, personification, idioms, and hyperbole.
In the storyboard example below, there are three similes from Minli's encounter with the monkeys:
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows three examples of figurative language in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.
Encourage students to share their selected figurative language examples in small groups. Group discussion allows students to explain their choices and hear diverse interpretations, strengthening comprehension and critical thinking around how figurative language enhances meaning in the story.
Demonstrate how to closely read a passage containing figurative language by thinking aloud. Show students how to identify figurative language, discuss its purpose, and consider how it affects the reader's understanding or emotions.
Prompt students to consider how figurative language relates to the book’s central themes or characters’ experiences. This helps deepen analysis and reinforces the importance of literary devices in conveying big ideas.
Invite students to select a literal sentence from the book and rewrite it with their own figurative language. Encouraging creativity helps students apply their understanding and see how language choices can transform ordinary descriptions.
Figurative language in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon refers to creative expressions—like similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, and hyperbole—that help describe characters, settings, and events in vivid, imaginative ways.
Students can find figurative language by looking for phrases in the text that compare things using 'like' or 'as' (similes), describe objects with human traits (personification), or use creative comparisons. Highlight these examples and note which type they represent.
Examples of similes from the book include: “The monkeys’ shrieks...like a volcano about to erupt,” “she felt like the water she was boiling,” and “eyes...glittering...like hundreds of diamonds.”
To create a storyboard, choose three figurative language examples from the text. Label each with its type (simile, metaphor, etc.), provide the quote, and illustrate each using drawings or digital images that represent the meaning.
Figurative language helps students better understand characters’ emotions and the story’s imagery. It also builds reading comprehension and creative thinking, making lessons more engaging and meaningful.