Reading/Language Arts Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings

Transcription

1 Reading/Language Arts Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings

2 Dear Parent or Guardian: Your son or daughter is currently learning to determine the meaning of literal and nonliteral words and phrases in a sentence or passage. Here is your chance to help him or her practice this important skill. In this PAL Packet you will find a short activity for you and your son or daughter to do. Please do the activity and The Back Page this evening. Then sign your name on The Back Page and have your son or daughter return it tomorrow. Thanks for your help. Sincerely, Your son or daughter s teacher Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated 1

3 LITERAL MEANING VS. NONLITERAL MEANING Parent Pointer A story may contain literal and nonliteral words and phrases. Finding the literal meaning of a word means that the reader can give the exact meaning of the word. A reader may use a synonym (a different word with the same meaning) of that word to figure out its meaning. On the other hand, when finding the nonliteral meaning of a word, the reader must be able to determine what the word means without using its literal meaning. This is called figurative language. Figurative language includes similes, metaphors, and idioms. A simile compares two things using as or like in the phrase. A metaphor compares two things without using as or like. An idiom cannot be understood based on the literal meanings of the words. (For example, Keep your shirt on! is an idiom.) To determine the meanings of literal and nonliteral language, a reader can use clues in a sentence and any sentences that surround the word or phrase, use his or her prior knowledge of synonyms, or use a dictionary to check the meaning of the word or phrase. Reading In the Home, On the Go, and For the Fun of It DIRECTIONS: With your parent or partner, read the Lead Us to Freedom passage, paying close attention to the underlined words, phrases, and sentences. Figure out the meanings of these words, phrases, and sentences by using clues in the sentence and any surrounding sentences, or by using your prior knowledge of synonyms. Then, complete the Finding Its Meaning pages by writing the meaning of each word, phrase, or sentence in the appropriate box. After you are finished, use a dictionary to check your meanings. Talk About It After you have finished the activity, turn to The Back Page to show what you know. Now go have some fun with the activity! Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated 2

4 Lead Us to Freedom We walked through the immense barrier of palo verde, sage, and other desert foliage looking for an exit. The wash was overgrown with plants and trees; it was difficult to see where we were going, and our momentum was slowed. This natural obstacle reminded me of a great living wall, always moving and forever changing. We stopped in a small clearing where no plants or trees had grown. It was like a giant had stepped here, leaving his footprint. As we relaxed and caught our breath, the serene surroundings made us forget that we were lost, and would be lost for a long time if we did not free ourselves from nature s maze. Near us, we could hear the patter of some small animal as it moved through the underbrush. It sounded like a baby taking its first steps. Ever so nimbly, a jackrabbit slowly crept through the bushes and into the clearing in which we were sitting. The jackrabbit stared at us like a deer caught in the headlights. We stared at it, waiting for its agile legs to carry it back into the wall of brush surrounding us. Its fur was as gray as a storm cloud. A leaf fell from one of the trees along the edge of the clearing that concealed our location in the wash, which caused the jack rabbit to flee through the brush. We decided to follow it, hoping that the jackrabbit would lead us to freedom. We jostled through the brush and trees around us, finally pushing our way out into the barren landscape that was the Sonoran desert. Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated 3

5 Finding Its Meaning Word, Phrase, or Sentence Its Meaning barrier foliage... reminded me of a great living wall... serene patter Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated 4

6 Finding Its Meaning (Continued) Word, Phrase, or Sentence Its Meaning ng It sounded like a baby taking its first steps.... like a deer caught in the headlights. Its fur was as gray as a storm cloud. concealed jostled Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated 5

7 The Back Page Talk About It Parent Ask your son or daughter the following question: What are the best ways to find the meanings of unfamiliar words and phrases? Student Answer the above question in complete sentences on the bottom of this page (or use the reverse side of this page if needed). OR Do the following activity using the reverse side of this page. Make and complete an organizer similar to the Finding Its Meaning pages, using at least five more words or phrases from the Lead Us to Freedom passage and finding their meaning. Student s Name Parent or Guardian s Signature Grade 6 Literal and Nonliteral Meanings 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated 6