Poetry: Simile, Metaphor & Imagery
The Spark
Concept
A simile compares two things using like or as — for example, fast as lightning. A metaphor says one thing is another — for example, the sun is a golden coin. Imagery is language that appeals to the senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, touch — to create a picture in the reader's mind.
Activity
Ask your child to close their eyes and imagine a stormy beach. Ask: What can you see? Hear? Feel? Smell? Then help them turn one idea into a simile and one into a metaphor.
Check
After the worksheet, ask your child to identify two examples of imagery in a poem or picture book and explain which sense each one appeals to.
Sort: Simile or Metaphor?
Read each phrase and sort it into the correct column.
Simile or Metaphor? — Round 1
Circle whether each phrase is a simile or a metaphor.
The classroom was a beehive of noise.
She ran as fast as a cheetah.
His words were daggers.
The fog rolled in like a grey blanket.
Time is a river.
As quiet as a sleeping cat.
Match Figure of Speech to Example
Draw a line to match each type of figurative language to the correct example.
Identify Imagery in a Poem
Read the poem. Find three examples of imagery and write which sense each one appeals to.
POEM — After the Storm The garden exhaled a green breath after the rain, puddles glittered like scattered mirrors on the path, the air tasted of fresh earth and iron, and the first bird dared a trembling note that unspooled in the silence like silver thread. 1. Example: Sense:
2. Example: Sense:
3. Example: Sense:
Sort Imagery by Sense
Sort each phrase into the sense it most strongly appeals to.
Which Sense Does This Appeal To?
Circle the sense most strongly evoked by each phrase.
'The bread smelled of warm butter and morning.'
'The velvet curtains muffled every sound.'
'Sunlight spilled like honey across the floorboards.'
'A bitter tang of smoke hit the back of my throat.'
'The kettle screamed its shrill warning.'
Write Five Original Similes
Write five original similes about things you can see or experience right now. Try to avoid clichés — no 'fast as lightning' or 'quiet as a mouse'!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Match Metaphor to Its Meaning
Match each metaphor on the left to its meaning on the right.
Fresh or Clichéd Simile?
Sort each simile into 'Fresh and original' or 'Clichéd and overused'.
Rewrite the Cliché
Each phrase below is a clichéd simile. Rewrite it using a fresh, original comparison on the same idea.
Cliché: 'As happy as a clam.' My version:
Cliché: 'Like a bull in a china shop.' My version:
Cliché: 'As white as snow.' My version:
Cliché: 'Sleep like a log.' My version:
Imagery Notebook
Start an imagery notebook this week — collect vivid language you notice in books, conversations and the world around you.
- 1Write down one striking piece of figurative language from a book you are reading this week.
- 2Describe your walk to the letterbox or garden using three different sensory images.
- 3Find a poem by an Australian poet (Banjo Paterson, Judith Wright, Steven Herrick) and underline every simile and metaphor.
Write Five Original Metaphors
Write five original metaphors about emotions or abstract ideas — happiness, fear, hope, boredom, excitement. Do not use 'like' or 'as'.
Happiness is ...
Fear is ...
Hope is ...
Boredom is ...
Excitement is ...
Which Is the More Vivid Image?
Circle the sentence that creates a more vivid, specific image.
The storm was bad.
The food tasted good.
He walked into the room.
Write an Extended Metaphor
Choose one of the topics below. Write 4–5 sentences developing a single extended metaphor across the whole passage.
Topics: [ ] School is a jungle. [ ] A family is an orchestra. [ ] A friendship is a garden. [ ] My own: My extended metaphor:
Sort: Literal or Figurative?
Sort each sentence into 'Literal (states a fact)' or 'Figurative (uses figurative language)'.
Match Technique to Definition
Match each figurative language technique to its definition.
Identify Personification
Circle 'Yes' if the phrase uses personification, 'No' if it does not.
The stars danced in the midnight sky.
The river ran quickly to the sea.
Fear knocked at his door every night.
The leaves were orange and gold.
The old house groaned with the weight of memories.
Three magpies sat on the fence.
Write Five Personification Sentences
Write five sentences using personification. Give a human quality to something in nature or the world around you.
1. The moon ...
2. The storm ...
3. The old book ...
4. The night ...
5. The road ...
Analyse a Poem Stanza
Read the stanza. Identify two techniques used and explain the effect each creates.
STANZA: The last train breathed a sigh of steam and pulled its silver body through the dark, a needle threading night from seam to seam, carrying its cargo of the lonely-hearted. Technique 1 and effect:
Technique 2 and effect:
Sort by Figurative Language Technique
Sort each phrase into the correct column.
Poetry Walk
Go on a walk and look at the world through a poet's eyes.
- 1On a 10-minute walk, collect five images — one for each sense. Write them in a notebook.
- 2Choose one object you see and write three different figurative comparisons for it — a simile, a metaphor and a personification.
- 3Write a four-line poem about one thing you observed on the walk, using at least two figurative techniques.
Upgrade the Paragraph
The paragraph below uses only literal language. Rewrite it using at least four figurative techniques — simile, metaphor, personification, and sensory imagery. Keep the same events.
ORIGINAL: It was a hot day. Jack walked to the beach. The sand was very warm. The waves were big. The water was cold when he got in. My rewrite:
Show or Tell?
Circle whether each sentence 'shows' or 'tells' the emotion or situation.
She was very happy.
She laughed until her sides ached and tears streamed down her face.
He was afraid.
His mouth went dry and his palms prickled with sweat.
The house was old.
Paint flaked from the windowsills and the hinges wept rust.
'Show, Don't Tell' Practice
Transform each 'tell' sentence into a 'show' passage using figurative language and sensory imagery. Write 2–3 sentences for each.
Tell: He was embarrassed. Show:
Tell: The kitchen smelled amazing. Show:
Tell: She felt proud. Show:
Match 'Tell' Sentence to 'Show' Passage
Match each 'tell' sentence on the left to the 'show' passage that conveys the same meaning.
Write a Nature Poem
Write a poem of 8–10 lines about a feature of the Australian natural environment — beach, bush, outback, rainforest. Include at least: two similes, one metaphor, one personification, and two sensory images. Label each technique in the margin.
My environment:
My poem:
Figurative Language Toolkit: Self-Assessment
Review your understanding of each technique by completing the chart.
Simile — write your own definition and give an example you created today:
Metaphor — write your own definition and give an example you created today:
Personification — write your own definition and give an example you created today:
Imagery — write your own definition and give an example you created today:
Sort by Effect
Sort each piece of figurative language by its primary effect on the reader.
Figurative Language in Non-fiction Texts
Circle 'Yes' if the sentence uses figurative language, 'No' if it uses only literal language.
The human heart pumps around 70 times per minute.
The heart is the engine of the body, keeping everything running.
Australia is a continent in the southern hemisphere.
Australia is an ancient, sun-scorched island continent.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches for 2,300 kilometres.
The Great Barrier Reef is a living cathedral beneath the sea.
Figurative Language in Your Own Non-fiction
Choose a topic you know well — an animal, a place, a sport. Write a paragraph of non-fiction about it that includes at least two figurative techniques. The writing must still be accurate and informative.
My topic:
My paragraph:
Match the Opening Line to the Mood
Match each opening line to the mood the figurative language creates.
Write a Story Opening
Write the opening paragraph of a story (5–7 sentences). Your opening must use figurative language to establish the setting and mood before any character appears. Use at least three different techniques.
Setting (tick one): [ ] A deserted school at night [ ] A market on a summer morning [ ] An outback road at dusk [ ] My own: My opening paragraph:
Author Study
Read a chapter of a novel you enjoy and hunt for figurative language like a detective.
- 1Find two similes, two metaphors and one example of personification in a chapter of your current book.
- 2Write out one piece of figurative language you found and explain in two sentences why it is effective.
- 3Try replacing one figurative phrase you found with a more literal version — then compare. Which version is stronger?
Paragraph Analysis
Read the paragraph below. Identify all figurative language techniques used and explain the effect each creates for the reader.
PASSAGE: The library was a sleeping giant — vast, silent, breathing through its yellowed pages. Dust motes drifted like tiny planets in the shaft of afternoon light. Every shelf was a time machine, each spine a doorway. She moved through it slowly, reverently, as if walking through a forest of old growth trees. Technique 1 and effect:
Technique 2 and effect:
Technique 3 and effect:
Synaesthesia Sentences
Write five sentences that mix the senses — describe a sound as a colour, a smell as a texture, a taste as a sound. Be bold and unexpected.
1. That sound is the colour ...
2. The smell of rain feels like ...
3. Her laughter tasted like ...
4. The music looked like ...
5. Silence smells like ...
Write a Personal Essay Opening Using Figurative Language
Write the opening of a personal essay about a significant memory — a place, an event, a person who matters to you. Use figurative language deliberately to convey emotion as well as description. Write 8–10 sentences.
My memory:
My essay opening:
Peer Review: Evaluate Figurative Language
Read the passage. Write a detailed evaluation: what figurative techniques are used, how effective each is, and what you would change or strengthen if you were the editor.
PASSAGE: The city was loud. Cars honked like angry geese. The office building stood tall. Workers moved like ants in and out of the doors. At lunchtime the plaza filled with people and noise. My evaluation:
Rewrite the Passage with Elevated Figurative Language
Take the same passage from the previous activity and rewrite it with richer, more sophisticated figurative language. Keep the same content and events — only improve the language.
My improved version:
Rank the Figurative Language by Effectiveness
Sort these descriptions of a sunrise from 'Least effective' to 'Most effective' and explain your ranking on the lines below.
Write a Complete Poem: Your Choice
Write a poem of 12–16 lines on any topic you choose. Your poem must include: at least two similes, at least two metaphors, at least one example of personification, at least three distinct sensory images, and at least one fresh comparison that avoids all clichés. Label each technique.
My topic:
My poem:
Poet in Residence — Extended Project
Spend the week creating a small illustrated poetry collection of three poems using all the figurative language techniques from this unit.
- 1Write one poem about an Australian place or animal, using at least four figurative techniques.
- 2Write one poem about an emotion, using only metaphors — no similes allowed.
- 3Write one poem using personification throughout — give a whole ecosystem (forest, reef, outback) a human voice.
- 4Illustrate each poem with a drawing or collage inspired by the imagery.
- 5Read all three poems aloud to a family member and ask them to identify their favourite image from each.
Create an Imagery Glossary
Create a personal glossary of 10 figurative language examples from your own writing this unit. For each, write: the example, the technique, and what effect you were trying to create.
1. Example | Technique | Effect:
2. Example | Technique | Effect:
3. Example | Technique | Effect:
4. Example | Technique | Effect:
5. Example | Technique | Effect:
6. Example | Technique | Effect:
7. Example | Technique | Effect:
8. Example | Technique | Effect:
9. Example | Technique | Effect:
10. Example | Technique | Effect:
Write a Description Using Only One Technique
Write a description of a thunderstorm using ONLY personification — every sentence must give the storm a human quality. Write 6–8 sentences.
My description:
Sort: Which Technique Creates This Effect?
Match each desired effect to the figurative technique most likely to create it.
Write a Descriptive Paragraph Using Four Techniques
Write a descriptive paragraph about a city street at night. Include at least one simile, one metaphor, one personification, and two sensory images. Label each technique in the margin.
My paragraph:
Which Technique Is More Effective Here?
Read each pair and circle the more effective use of figurative language.
Describing anger:
Describing a busy market:
Describing loneliness:
Write a Poem About an Australian Place
Write a poem of 10–12 lines about an Australian landscape — the outback, the Snowy Mountains, the Kimberley, a reef, a city at night. Use at least four different figurative language techniques. Label each one.
My place:
My poem:
Match Poem Line to Technique
Match each line of poetry to the figurative language technique it uses.
Final Reflection: Your Figurative Language Journey
Write a reflection (4–5 sentences) on what you have learned about figurative language. Include: one technique you found challenging, one you feel confident with, and one piece of figurative language you are proud of creating during this unit.
My reflection:
Create Your Figurative Language Showcase
Choose your three best pieces of figurative language from across this worksheet — one simile, one metaphor, and one personification. Write each one out beautifully, label the technique, and explain in one sentence what effect it creates.
My best simile: Effect:
My best metaphor: Effect:
My best personification: Effect:
Write a Poem: Free Choice
Write a poem of 12–16 lines on any topic you choose. This is your most polished, ambitious poem of the unit. Use at least five different figurative language techniques and label each one. Aim for originality — surprise the reader.
My topic:
My poem:
Figurative Language: Spot the Strongest Example
For each set, circle the example that uses figurative language most effectively.
Describing a summer afternoon:
Describing the ocean at night:
Describing an empty house:
Poet in Residence — Final Week
Bring together everything you have learned about figurative language in a creative project of your choice.
- 1Write a collection of five very short poems (2–4 lines each), each using a single figurative technique — simile, metaphor, personification, imagery, synaesthesia.
- 2Write a story opening (one paragraph) that establishes a powerful sense of place using figurative language.
- 3Read a poem aloud, record it, and listen back — notice how the figurative language sounds when spoken.
- 4Find one Australian poem you love and write a paragraph analysing its figurative language techniques and their effects.
- 5Create an illustrated poster of your five favourite pieces of figurative language from this unit.
Write Figurative Language About a Science Concept
Choose a science concept you have been studying. Write four sentences — one simile, one metaphor, one personification and one sensory image — to explain or describe it.
My science concept:
Simile:
Metaphor:
Personification:
Sensory image:
Figurative Language: Identify the Technique
Read each sentence and circle the correct technique.
'Hope is a bird that perches in the soul.'
'She sings like a morning bird greeting the sun.'
'The fog came on little cat feet, sitting silent on its haunches.'
'The fresh bread smelled of warm afternoons and childhood.'
'His anger was a kettle left on the flame too long.'
'The stars scattered like salt on black velvet.'
Match the Technique to Its Definition
Review: match each technique to the correct definition.
Figurative Language: Creative Writing Masterpiece
Write a descriptive passage of 10–12 sentences about a significant place in your life — real or imagined. Use every figurative language technique you have learned: simile, metaphor, personification, sensory imagery, and extended metaphor. This is your most polished, ambitious piece of writing.
My place:
My passage:
Figurative Language: My Top Ten List
Create a 'Top Ten Figurative Language Moments' list — ten pieces of figurative language from your own writing this unit that you are most proud of. Arrange them from 10 (good) to 1 (your personal best). For each, write the technique used.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
My personal best — Number 1: