What is a Verb?
K-2
1
Simile vs. Metaphor
Lesson Details
Grade Level
3-5
Duration (minutes)
1
Summary
A Language Arts lesson distinguishing similes from metaphors, using paired example sentences to show how similes use "like" or "as" while metaphors state one thing directly is another.
Student Worksheet: Simile vs. Metaphor
Teacher Note: Students can watch the video lesson above and answer the questions. Click the “Teacher Answer Key” dropdown below when you are ready to review the solutions!
Key Concepts:
• Simile: Compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” Example: “He ran like the wind.”
• Metaphor: Compares two things by saying one thing IS another, without using “like” or “as.” Example: “The test was a monster.”
Instructions: Read each question carefully and write your answer in the space provided.
- Question 1: What word or words does a simile always use?
- Question 2: Is “The classroom was a zoo” a simile or a metaphor? How do you know?
- Question 3: Is “As soft as a cloud” a simile or a metaphor? How do you know?
- Question 4: Is “My backpack is a black hole” a simile or a metaphor? How do you know?
- Question 5: Rewrite “Her laugh was like music” as a metaphor instead of a simile.
- Question 6: Write your own original simile AND your own original metaphor.
Click to reveal Teacher Answer Key
1. “Like” or “as.”
2. Metaphor — it says the classroom WAS a zoo, without using “like” or “as.”
3. Simile — it uses the word “as.”
4. Metaphor — it says the backpack IS a black hole, without “like” or “as.”
5. “Her laugh was music.”
6. Answers will vary — check that the simile uses “like” or “as,” and the metaphor does not.
Disclaimer: This worksheet was generated with AI assistance based on original video content. It is intended for educational reference only. Teachers are encouraged to review and adjust questions to fit their curriculum standards before classroom use.
🎯 Extension Activity: Give students 6 comparison sentences (a mix of similes and metaphors) and have them sort each into the correct category, then challenge them to convert 2 similes into metaphors and 2 metaphors into similes.