Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Literature-in-English
Curriculum Theme: Literature-in-English
Previous Lesson: Poetic Devices.
Topic: Literature Term 1 (Figures of Speech)
Subject Matter: Simile, metaphor, personification, oxymoron, onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, examples of figures of speech

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define figure of speech.
Define simile, metaphor, personification, oxymoron, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and assonance.
Differentiate between simile and metaphor.
Identify selected figures of speech in given sentences.

Affective Domain:

Show interest in using figures of speech to improve expression.
Appreciate how figures of speech make writing and speech more interesting.
Demonstrate willingness to participate in class discussion and examples.

Psychomotor Domain:

Write correct examples of each figure of speech in short sentences.
Underline or circle words that show a figure of speech in sentence strips.

Work with classmates to identify figures of speech in sentences.
Share examples in class and accept corrections politely.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Literature-in-English textbook for SSS 1 (Figures of Speech)
Textbook extracts and sentence strips (class handouts)
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Figure of Speech
Poetry Foundation: Glossary of Poetry Terms
BBC Bitesize: Language Techniques and Figures of Speech

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Figure of speech chart (prepared sample)
Sentence strips/cards
Marker board and markers
Textbook extracts

Rationale for the Lesson

Figures of speech are common in poems, stories, songs, and everyday expressions. Understanding them helps pupils interpret texts correctly and improve their own speaking and writing.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can read simple sentences and can identify basic descriptive words and comparisons in everyday language.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Figures of Speech

Meaning of Figure of Speech

A figure of speech is a special use of language that goes beyond the ordinary meaning of words to create a clear picture, sound effect, or strong impression.

Simile

A simile is a comparison between two different things using “like” or “as”.

The following are examples of simile:

Her face is as bright as the morning sun.
He runs like a cheetah.
The water is as cold as ice.

Metaphor

A metaphor is a direct comparison between two different things without using “like” or “as”.

The following are examples of metaphor:

Time is a thief.
Her voice is music to my ears.
The classroom was a zoo.

Difference Between Simile and Metaphor

The following are differences between simile and metaphor:

Simile uses “like” or “as”, while metaphor does not use “like” or “as”.
Simile compares indirectly, while metaphor compares directly.

Personification

Personification is giving human qualities to animals, objects, or ideas.

The following are examples of personification:

The wind whispered through the trees.
The sun smiled on the village.
Justice frowned at the wicked.

Oxymoron

An oxymoron is the combination of two opposite words placed together to create a special meaning.

The following are examples of oxymoron:

Deafening silence
Living dead
Bitter sweet

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sounds they represent.

The following are examples of onomatopoeia:

Bang
Sizzle
Buzz
Tick-tock

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words.

The following are examples of alliteration:

Peter picked a peck of pepper.
Sweet smell of success.
Big brown bag.

Assonance

Assonance is the repetition of the same vowel sound within nearby words.

The following are examples of assonance:

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.
Go and mow the lawn.
See the green leaves.

Summary Examples for Identification

The following are sentences for identifying figures of speech:

My brother is as stubborn as a goat. (Simile)
The city is a jungle at night. (Metaphor)
The flowers danced in the breeze. (Personification)
It was an open secret. (Oxymoron)
The door went “creak” in the dark. (Onomatopoeia)
She sells sea shells by the seashore. (Alliteration)
Hear the mellow wedding bells. (Assonance)

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes a few short sentences on the board and asks pupils to state which ones show comparison, sound imitation, or human qualities, then introduces the topic.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils read the sentences and respond by pointing out what makes the sentences special.
Learning Point: Figures of speech make language more expressive and meaningful.

Step 2: Meaning of Figure of Speech

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of figure of speech and gives two simple examples on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the meaning and mention one example each.
Learning Point: Figures of speech go beyond the ordinary meaning of words.

Step 3: Simile and Metaphor

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains simile and metaphor, gives examples, and guides pupils to state differences between them.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils give examples and identify whether each is a simile or metaphor.
Learning Point: Simile uses “like/as” while metaphor makes direct comparison.

Step 4: Personification and Oxymoron

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains personification and oxymoron and provides clear examples for pupils to interpret.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify human qualities in personification examples and pick opposite word pairs in oxymoron examples.
Learning Point: Personification gives human qualities while oxymoron joins opposite words.

Step 5: Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, and Assonance

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains onomatopoeia, alliteration, and assonance and demonstrates each using sentence strips and sound reading.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify sound words, repeated consonant sounds, and repeated vowel sounds in given examples.
Learning Point: Sound devices create special effects in writing and speech.

Step 6: Class Practice (Identification and Examples)

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practice/Question and Answer
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays sentence strips and asks pupils to identify the figure of speech used, then asks pupils to give one example each of two figures of speech.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify figures of speech and write short examples in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Figures of speech can be identified and used correctly in sentences.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define figure of speech.
List five figures of speech taught in this lesson.
Differentiate between simile and metaphor.
Identify the figures of speech in the following: “The wind whispered”, “Time is a thief”, “Bang!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 0 minutes
Teaching Skill: Closure
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points and gives a short assignment: pupils write two sentences each showing simile and personification and underline the keywords that show the figures of speech.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils note the assignment and submit classwork.
Learning Point: Figures of speech are defined, identified, and used in sentences.

Lesson Keywords

Simile – comparison using “like” or “as”.
Metaphor – direct comparison without “like” or “as”.
Personification – giving human qualities to non-human things.
Oxymoron – two opposite words placed together.
Onomatopoeia – words that imitate sounds.
Alliteration – repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
Assonance – repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Differentiation

Fast learners identify figures of speech in a short paragraph and create two original examples; average learners identify figures of speech from sentence strips and write one example each for three devices; learners who need support choose from provided options to match each figure of speech with its meaning and copy correct examples.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Use many short sentences to reduce confusion and allow pupils to focus on the language feature. Emphasize clear definitions and listing of points for examinations, and always ask pupils to underline the exact words that show the figure of speech.