This blog post outlines comprehensive lesson plans I created for teaching sound devices to fourth and fifth-grade students. The lessons cover alliteration, rhyme, and onomatopoeia and are presented in PowerPoint format to facilitate engaging and structured teaching.
The two PowerPoint lessons are nearly identical, with just one difference: the 4th-grade version includes rhyme slides, while the 5th-grade version includes onomatopoeia slides. This was due to an unannounced observation where I would not know if it would be with a fourth or fifth-grade class. At the time, the teaching standards were different: SPI 0401.8.8 focused on recognizing the sounds of language (i.e., alliteration, rhyme, and repetition) for 4th grade, while SPI 0501.8.8 focused on identifying the effect of sound within context (i.e., onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhythm, rhyme, repetition) for 5th grade. Hence, two almost identical lessons were created: 4th Grade: Rhyme and Alliteration and 5th Grade: Onomatopoeia and Alliteration.
Sound Device Definitions
Alliteration:
Alliteration is repeating the same consonant sound in close succession at the beginning of words. It is often used to create rhythm, mood, or emphasis in writing.
Examples:
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
- Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
- The wild winds whisked the wispy willows.
Rhyme:
Rhyme is the repetition of similar sounds at the end of words, usually at the end of lines in poetry. It gives a verse a musical quality and makes it more memorable.
Examples:
- Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.
- The cat in the hat sat on a mat.
- Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
Onomatopoeia:
Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sounds they describe. It is used to create a vivid, sensory experience in writing.
Examples:
- The bees buzzed in the garden.
- The bacon sizzled in the pan.
- The clock went tick-tock.
Lesson Overview
Each PowerPoint presentation includes:
- Hook Activity: High-interest videos from commercials to grab students’ attention
- Lesson Purpose: Clear objectives for what students will learn
- List of Activities: Overview of the activities covered in the lesson
- Essential Questions: Thought-provoking questions to guide learning
- Teaching Standards: Alignment with educational standards
- Assessment: Explanation of how students will be assessed
Activities Following Bloom’s Taxonomy
The lesson activities are designed to follow Bloom’s Taxonomy, ensuring a range of cognitive processes from remembering to creating.
I recommend downloading the PowerPoint lessons, so you can follow along as I explain the activities.
Activity #1: Sound Devices Organizers
For the first activity, students complete a graphic organizer to deepen their understanding of sound devices. Three versions of each organizer are provided to accommodate different learning needs.
- Bloom’s Remembering: Students complete the left side of their organizers by writing definitions for the sound devices.
- Bloom’s Creating: Students complete the right side of their organizers by creating alliteration and rhyme or onomatopoeia examples, depending on the grade level.
These graphic organizers help students internalize the definitions and applications of sound devices through active engagement.
The organizers are included in the handout.
Activity #2: Analyzing Text
- Bloom’s Analyzing: Students analyze lines from literature, famous speeches, and songs to identify onomatopoeia or alliteration. They initially use pinch cards to show their answers and later write them down.
This activity helps students recognize sound devices in various contexts, enhancing their analytical skills.
Activity #3: Group Game
- Bloom’s Analyzing: Students are divided into small groups to participate in a game. A video song is played, and after the song, teams have 90 seconds to identify instances of rhyme and alliteration in the lyrics. Team members are called upon randomly to state an example and identify the sound device. Points are awarded for correct answers, and the team with the most points wins.
This interactive game encourages collaboration and reinforces students’ ability to identify sound devices in a fun and competitive manner.
Activity #4: RAFT Writing Strategy
- Bloom’s Evaluating and Creating: Students select a project from one of four options, each requiring the use of rhyme or alliteration:
- Advertiser: Create a jingle or slogan for a commercial.
- Muralist: Design a mural for a downtown building.
- Campaign Manager: Develop a campaign slogan.
- Marketing: Design packaging for a product targeting young consumers.
Students choose a format for their project (book, mural, or collage) and work in groups to complete it. This activity promotes creativity and allows students to apply their knowledge of sound devices in practical, real-world scenarios.
Exit Activity: Reflection
As a final activity, students receive an advertisement and fill out an organizer to identify which sound device was used and evaluate its effectiveness. They then share their reflections with the class.
Teaching sound devices like alliteration, rhyme, and onomatopoeia can be fun and educational, allowing students to explore the beauty and power of language. These comprehensive lesson plans provide a structured yet engaging way to introduce these concepts to fourth—and fifth-graders. Students can deepen their understanding and appreciation of sound devices in literature and everyday language by utilizing high-interest videos, interactive activities, and creative projects.
These PowerPoint presentations and activities are designed to meet educational standards while offering flexibility to adapt to your teaching needs. Whether you are preparing for an observation or looking to enrich your language arts curriculum, these resources provide valuable tools to enhance student learning.
Please download the provided handouts and PowerPoint presentations to implement these lessons in your classroom. By doing so, you will equip your students with essential skills to analyze and create with sound devices, fostering both their critical thinking and creativity.
Check out the entire series on figurative language.
See the product that inspired this post.
If you are looking for more figurative language teaching ideas, check out my Figurative Language Unit on TPT.
3 comments
Very descriptive post, I liked that a lot. Will there be a part 2?
bookmarked!!, I like your website!
Really great post! Keep up the great work. I’ll be back to read more!
🙂