Figurative Language Close Reading Stories
Category: Education / Reading Activities
Help students spot, explain and use similes, idioms and allusions with 12 close reading stories for grades 4-8, in color, black and white and digital.
Watch your students start spotting similes, idioms and allusions in everything they read, and explain exactly why an author chose them. These figurative language close reading passages give grades 4-8 teachers and homeschool families a ready routine: one short story, four quick tasks and answer keys you can check in minutes. Students who need help get a support version, fast finishers get a challenge, and you get your planning time back. This is a printable and digital set of 12 original figurative language stories.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
• 1 ZIP file with 6 files
• 4 PDF files, 132 pages each: Full Color US Letter, Full Color A4, Black & White US Letter, Black & White A4
• 1 digital version: 72 editable slides (.pptx) with type-in boxes for Google Slides or PowerPoint
• 1 Print Guide (PDF)
WHAT'S INSIDE EACH PDF
• 12 original stories: Level 1 (stories 1-6, grades 4-5, 12-13 examples each) and Level 2 (stories 7-12, grades 6-8, 14 examples each)
• Every story uses all 8 types: simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, idiom and allusion
• 5 pages per story: Task A Find It, Task A Support Version, Task B Think About It, Task C Change It, Task D Story Remix
• 8 Spotlight lessons: one type per page, with a teaching box, a short passage that uses only that type, yes-or-no practice and a writing task
• 8 colorful posters and a 2-page reference sheet
• Color Code page and 6 Detective Rules, so every student labels examples the same way
• 12 Quick Checks (2 per page) and a 24-point Final Test
• Student progress tracker, class tracker and certificate
• 12 notebook-size story pages for composition notebooks
• Full answer keys: every Task A example highlighted and labeled, plus keys for Tasks B-D, Spotlights, Quick Checks and the Final Test
• Teacher guide, 3 pacing plans, differentiation tips and standards page
• Clickable table of contents and bookmarks
WHY IT WORKS
• Task A: students hunt for every example, label it or color it, and check it off
• Task B: line-numbered text with 4 multiple-choice questions and 1 written response on meaning and author's choice
• Task C: students rewrite 5 examples in their own words, keeping the same type
• Task D: a short remix of 4 sentences plus a bonus sentence, not a full copy of the story
• Support Version: a star marks every line that has an example, with short definitions and a Helper Box for idioms and allusions
• Easy-to-read Andika font and plenty of writing space
PERFECT FOR
• 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade ELA
• Bell work, literacy centers, small groups, homework and sub plans
• Test prep and figurative language review
• Homeschool families, tutors and intervention groups
• Google Classroom and other digital classrooms
HOW TO USE
• Teach the 8 Spotlight lessons first, or use them to reteach one type
• Give each student the Color Code page
• Use one story a week: Task A on Monday, Task B on Tuesday, Task C on Wednesday, Task D on Thursday and the Quick Check on Friday
• Finish with the Final Test
HOW TO PRINT
• Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader or your browser
• Print at "Actual size" or 100%
• Regular paper (20-24 lb / 80-90 gsm) works for student pages. Cardstock (65-110 lb) is best for posters and the certificate
• Print student pages single-sided so highlighters do not bleed through
PLEASE NOTE
• This is a digital download. Nothing will be shipped.
• Colors may look a little different on different screens and printers.
• For personal and classroom use by one teacher, classroom or homeschool family only. Please do not share, resell or post the files.
• Google Slides and PowerPoint are named only to show compatibility. This shop is not affiliated with Google or Microsoft.
• Made with AI assistance: the stories, questions and activities were drafted with the help of AI, then edited and checked by us. All illustrations were drawn by us with code.
Questions before you buy? Send us a message. We are happy to help.