Spin the Deck: Figurative Language | 80 Task Cards with Answers

Make figurative language review more engaging with Spin the Deck: Figurative Language, a comprehensive set of 80 task cards designed to help students identify different types of figurative language in complete sentences.

Each question card asks students, “What type of figurative language is used in this sentence?” Students analyze the example and identify the type of language being used. The deck begins with similes such as “She was as sweet as a rose” and “He ran like the wind” before expanding into a broad range of figurative language skills. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

With eight different types of figurative language, 80 practice questions, and corresponding answer cards, this is a substantial resource that can be used throughout an entire reading or language arts unit.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• 80 Spin the Deck figurative language question cards
• 80 corresponding answer cards
• 40 printable pages total
• Four cards per page
• Complete-sentence examples
• Eight different types of figurative language
• Colorful language arts-themed Spin the Deck design
• Built-in answers for self-checking practice
• Enough cards for repeated use throughout the school year

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE SKILLS INCLUDED

Students practice identifying:

• Similes
• Metaphors
• Personification
• Idioms
• Alliteration
• Onomatopoeia
• Hyperbole
• Oxymorons

This broad range makes the deck useful for introducing individual skills, reviewing previously taught concepts, or combining all eight types for cumulative practice.

SIMILES

Students begin by identifying comparisons that use words such as like and as. Examples include comparisons such as being “as brave as a lion,” having eyes that “sparkled like stars,” and being “as cold as ice.” Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

The corresponding answer cards identify these examples as similes. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

METAPHORS

Students then move into direct comparisons, including examples such as:

• Life is a roller coaster.
• Time is money.
• He is a shining star.
• Her heart is a stone.
• You are my sunshine.

These cards require students to distinguish metaphors from similes even though both involve comparisons. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

PERSONIFICATION

Students practice recognizing examples in which nonhuman things are described using human actions or characteristics.

The deck includes sentences about the sun smiling, the wind whispering, flowers dancing, thunder roaring, the moon winking, and waves kissing the shore. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

IDIOMS

Students encounter common expressions presented in complete sentences, including examples such as:

• spilled the beans
• a chip on her shoulder
• bit off more than he could chew
• hit the nail on the head
• green thumb
• under the weather
• couch potato
• smart cookie
• barking up the wrong tree

These examples give students practice recognizing language that should not be interpreted only by its literal meaning. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

ALLITERATION

Students identify repeated beginning sounds in sentences such as:

• Alice ate apples and almonds in the afternoon.
• Bob bought a big blue balloon.
• Carrie carried a couple of colorful candles.
• Dan dug a deep ditch in the dirt.

Additional cards continue the pattern with other beginning sounds, giving students repeated exposure to alliteration in context. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

ONOMATOPOEIA

Students practice identifying sound-related language through examples involving words such as buzzed, bang, hissed, popped, screeched, ticked, tocked, splashed, and boom. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

HYPERBOLE

The deck also provides practice recognizing exaggerated statements.

Students analyze examples such as being so hungry someone “could eat a horse,” crying “a river of tears,” having “a ton of homework,” and having “a million friends.” Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

OXYMORONS

Students finish with examples identified in the resource as oxymorons, including:

• deafening silence
• pretty ugly
• living dead
• bitter sweet
• cruel kindness
• serious joke
• open secret
• definite maybe

These cards provide students with practice recognizing combinations of contrasting or contradictory ideas. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua… Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

MULTIPLE WAYS TO USE SPIN THE DECK

This large set can be used for:

• Whole-group reading review
• Small-group instruction
• Literacy centers
• Figurative language stations
• Partner practice
• Independent practice
• Intervention
• Enrichment
• Early finishers
• Morning work
• Spiral review
• Test preparation
• Tutoring
• Homeschool instruction
• Exit tickets
• Team review games

Because the deck contains 80 questions, teachers can also separate the cards by figurative language type and introduce one category at a time before combining the entire deck for cumulative review.

BUILT-IN SELF-CHECKING ANSWERS

Every group of question cards is followed by corresponding answer cards identifying the figurative language type.

For example, the cards featuring “Life is a roller coaster” and “Time is money” are followed by answer cards identifying both as metaphors. Spin the Deck Figurative Langua…

This built-in answer system makes the resource especially useful for literacy centers, partner activities, independent practice, and student-led review.

PERFECT FOR DIFFERENTIATION

With 80 cards and eight different figurative language categories, this resource is easy to differentiate.

Students beginning the skill can work with one category at a time.

Students ready for additional practice can compare two or three figurative language types.

Students demonstrating greater mastery can work with the complete mixed deck and identify the correct type without knowing which category will appear next.

Students can also be asked to explain why an example belongs to a particular category or create their own sentence using the same type of figurative language.

EASY TO PREP AND REUSE

Simply print, cut, and use.

For a durable classroom set, print the cards on cardstock and laminate them. Store cards by category or combine the full set in a task-card box, photo case, zipper pouch, binder pocket, or literacy-center container.

Once prepared, this large deck can be used repeatedly for instruction, centers, spiral review, intervention, enrichment, and test preparation.

A COMPREHENSIVE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE REVIEW RESOURCE

Spin the Deck: Figurative Language goes far beyond a small set of task cards. With 80 question cards, 80 corresponding answers, and eight figurative language categories, teachers have enough material for focused lessons, centers, review games, intervention, cumulative practice, and assessment preparation.

Instead of another worksheet, students get repeated opportunities to read, analyze, classify, discuss, and apply figurative language in context while working in an engaging task-card format.