Idioms: People say the funniest things

Description

A practical and entertaining pack which offers a structured and highly visual approach to improving the understanding of idiomatic language. The pack contains illustrations that depict both the literal and non-literal interpretations of a range of common idioms and jokes.

Some children and young people may require additional support to develop an understanding and appreciation of the subtlety of figurative comments, phrases, and verbal jokes. Particularly for children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), idioms or figurative language can be confusing –  they require a clear understanding of the speaker’s intentions to be able to see beyond the literal of meaning in their words. (Our resource on Sarcasm may also be useful for these pupils).

For more information see below.

Ref: PRAG12-2 Download Sample

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This Idioms pack contains colourfully illustrated stories, and accompanying material and suggestions, to provide a stimulus for discussion, as well as explicit teaching of idiomatic language. Extension activities are also included.

The pack is comprised of three main parts:

  • four illustrated stories depicting idioms;
  • activities centred on the use of idioms;
  • an activity related to wordplay humour (for example, match the joke)
  • a list of idioms is also included.

Stories The stories are presented in a traditional picture book format (text on the left-hand side; illustration on the right) to introduce children to, and help them understand, idioms. Each story incorporates a number of well-known phrases and sayings (idioms); a selection of words describing the main character’s degree of amusement or puzzlement; and illustrations depicting the literal and non-literal meanings of the sayings. If you are working with individual children, work through the story as you would with a normal book.

Story example:

Hannah’s School Day – It’s almost time to leave for school. Hannah’s Mum looks out of the window and it’s raining ‘cats and dogs’. On Hannah’s school day she encounters a ‘box of tricks, she has to ‘keep her eyes peeled’, her teacher gets ‘hot under the collar’, she has to ‘pull her socks up’ and when she finally gets home Grandpa is having ‘forty winks’

Activity examples include:

  • link the saying and it’s meaning;
  • can you draw both the literal meaning and the meaning normally intended to be conveyed by use of the idiom (such as 40 winks).
  • can you match the joke

The games and stories are suitable for children from the age of 6 years. Our resource on Sarcasm may also be useful.

Developed from an original idea by Dr Dave Smith, Educational Psychologist and developed and illustrated by Helen Rippon. David has worked in education for over 40 years, first as a primary school teacher then as an advisory teacher for children with SEN.

Aims: To develop understanding of idioms and how they are used. Also useful as a differentiation resource.

Age Range: KS2, 7yrs.+ Particularly useful for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and as a differentiation resource.

Format: PDF file, 160 pages, 70 pages with colour illustrations, plus instructions and extension activities and black and white duplicate pictures.

Snippet: Upgrade your account to send specially selected extracts of this resource, via our website, to parents and carers for homework exercises. The illustrated story included in the Snippet includes Hannah’s School Day.

Additional information

Development Age

7 to 11 years

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