Olivia Markoski

School of Education
The College of New Jersey

Topic and Grade Level: Introduction to Idioms and Grade 2

Lesson Essential Questions: Will students be able to figure out the meaning of an idiom? Will
students be able to figure out the figurative meaning of an idiom instead of its literal expression?
Standards:
L2.5b: Use figurative language
Objectives and Assessments:
Objectives Assessments
Students will be able to demonstrate that 1. Students will answer questions verbally
idioms are expressions/phrases that mean during instruction regarding idioms and
something different than what the words engage in turn and talks with partners in order
actually say. to figure out the meaning of certain idioms.
2. Students will also select an idiom from
todays class and draw a picture of its
figurative meaning to demonstrate
understanding, as well as, its literal one.
3. Students who may finish early: Students
will complete a matching worksheet which
demonstrates knowledge of the idioms
meaning that were discussed today.

Materials:
- Idioms PP
- Peas in a Pod Read Aloud by Xander Davies
- Chart Paper
- Construction Paper
- Worksheet
Prior Knowledge: Students have not been taught this topic before. However, some students may
have some background knowledge on this topic solely from hearing the idiom expressions used
in daily life by parents and/or teachers. Therefore, they may recognize the expressions, but may
not know what it means or that it is an idiom.
Lesson Beginning: The lesson will begin with me instructing the students using many examples
of idioms in order to engage them into this lesson. After I do this, I will ask my students if they
notice anything odd about the way I am talking. From here, I will see if anyone can pick up on
the expressions that I am using.
1. Clears throat- Excuse me, I have a frog in my throat today.
 2. Let me see who is ready to go wow so and so youre really on the ball today.
3. Okay so I wont beat around the bush anymore, let me tell you what we are going to
be learning about today. Its the best thing since sliced bread! Its going to be a real
piece of cake for all of you.
Instructional Time: After the students have observed my unusual tongue, I will tell them that I
am using lots of expressions called idioms. Idioms are well known phrases that mean something
different from what the words actually say. Lets take a look at some of the ones I just used.
1. Turn on PowerPoint.
2. Each slide includes one of the phrases I used to start the lesson and their figurative
meaning instead of the literal one.
3. The students and I will discuss them one by one.
After the students have been introduced to the topic, they will be asked to go to the back carpet
for a read aloud. Once at the carpet, I will ask the students to explain in their own words what an
idiom is. Then, I will tell them that we will be reading and learning about idioms that relate to
people and food.
1. Read Peas in a Pod
2. Turn to chart paper and review the idioms listed from the story.
3. Tell students to select one that was their favorite.
Once the students have their favorite idiom, they will be given instructions to their activity. They
will draw two pictures to the idiom they selected. One is the literal, funny meaning to the idiom
and the other is the actual meaning. They will be sent back to their desks to do this. For those
who finish early, they will be given a matching worksheet with all the idioms discussed today.
Differentiation:
1. I will consistently be walking around the room to check on any students who may be
struggling and who may not be focused in order to refocus them back to their work.
2. For my advanced students, I will ask them to verbally apply the idiom in a sentence.
3. For those who finish earlier, they will be given a matching worksheet on the idioms
used today.
Questions:
1. After page 9, ask students what they believe couch potato means.
2. After page 12, have students turn to a partner and have them tell each other what they
think goes bananas means.
3. After page 14, turn to partners again and figure out what nice as pie means.
Closure: The lesson will end with asking the students So someone remind me, what is an
idiom? Do we act in the literal ways that the idioms says or is it just a saying about our
behavior? After these questions, if time allows, students will be asked to present their pictures
to the class.