Figurative Language Sorting Activity: Similes, Metaphors & Personification

Gifted and Talented Teacher creates high-quality teaching resources and printable teacher resources designed to support calm, organised, and engaging learning environments. From curriculum-aligned teaching tools to functional classroom decor, our resources are classroom-ready and designed to save teachers time.

Build deep understanding of figurative language with this hands-on, cut-and-paste sorting task designed to engage students while reinforcing key concepts. This resource supports students in identifying and classifying similes, metaphors, and personification through an interactive process of reading, colour-coding, cutting, and sorting.

Students begin by analysing a range of figurative language examples, using colour to identify patterns and meaning. They then cut and sort each example into the correct category, gluing them onto a structured template to demonstrate their understanding. The physical manipulation of language makes this an ideal activity for consolidating learning in a meaningful and memorable way.

This teacher resource includes:

• 3 Differentiated Sorting Tasks (increasing in sophistication):
  • Level 1 (Supported): Clear, simple examples to introduce each type of figurative language
  • Level 2 (Developing): A mix of familiar and slightly more complex examples requiring deeper thinking
  • Level 3 (Extending): More abstract and nuanced examples to challenge student understanding
• Answers for 3 Differentiated Sorting Tasks
• Cut-and-Paste Sorting Templates:
  • Structured templates with labelled columns for similes, metaphors, and personification
  • Encourages students to justify and organise their thinking visually

This classroom activity supports explicit teaching of figurative language concepts, incorporates hands-on learning to deepen understanding, includes built-in differentiation to cater for a range of learners, encourages active thinking, discussion, and justification and is perfect for independent work, small groups, or literacy rotations.

A practical, low-prep activity that helps students confidently recognise and categorise figurative language—while staying engaged from start to finish.

Format: PDF

Aligned to Australian Curriculum Outcome: Identify authors’ use of vivid, emotive vocabulary, such as metaphors, similes, personification, idioms, imagery and hyperbole. (AC9E6LA08)

Gifted and Talented Teacher creates teacher resources designed to lighten the load and classroom decor that lifts the room.