Seed Similes
Supplies:
2 pieces of paper and
a pencil for each student | Paper scraps
All kinds of seeds
from all kinds of sources
Ask students to bring
some in, and provide plenty in seed packets, still in their pods, in small
plastic baggies; you can even go outside and collect more from trees and
gardens (if you have permission!) as part of this lesson
A
"simile" (pronounced SIM ih lee) is a figure of speech. It is a way to describe
two things that are similar, or the same. The fun part is in choosing words to
express fresh, new ideas in a fresh, new way. When you write a simile, you can
show people something that's true that they have never thought of before!
For
this activity, you might want to ask each student ahead of time to bring in
several different kinds of seeds. Give them several days' notice and remind
them. Ask them to put each different kind of seed in a different container, and
label them. Small zip-lock bags work well for this.
Brainstorm
the types of seeds that might be available in your area or from your grocery
store right now: watermelon seed, acorn, fruit pit, milkweed pod, pine cone,
and of course different kinds of flower and vegetable seeds available in seed
packets purchased from garden stores, or collected from the students' own home
gardens.
When
students arrive, each student should take a small scrap of paper and write a
label for the type of seed he or she has brought, if he or she forgot to label
them. If you brought five different kinds of seeds, then you need to write five
labels so that the other students will know which seed is which.
Now,
on a table where all the students can see all of the seeds, lay out all the
seeds that you have brought from home - watermelon seed, acorn, fruit pit,
milkweed, pine cone, etc.
Discuss
characteristics. How are these seeds alike, and different?
Now
for the similes. Each student should take a piece of paper and a pencil, and write
a descriptive simile for each seed that is on display. The student will have to
come up with a characteristic, and something that the seed is similar to. For
example:
A
mustard seed is as tiny as the dot on the letter "i."
A
watermelon seed is as black as a cat's fur on Halloween night.
Underline
the three parts of the simile - what you're comparing to what,
and how they are alike.
Do it, like this:
A
mustard seed is as tiny as the dot on the letter "i."
A
watermelon seed is as black as a cat's fur on Halloween night.
Now
choose your favorite seed, and finish these exercises:
- My seed is as sharp as . . . name
3 things it is as sharp as.
- My seed is the color of . . .
name 3 things that are the same color.
- My seed feels like . . . name 3
things that feel like your seed.
Finally,
on a separate sheet of paper, draw a close-up view of your seed, and write a
paragraph about it. Be sure to use a couple of your similes. Describe in detail
what fruit, vegetable or other produce your seed will turn into.
Best
of all, go home and plant your seed. See if it ends up SIMILAR to your similes!
