Activities to Teach Students to Use Personification
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Personification is a literary device where human qualities are given to non-human things like objects, animals, or concepts. Teaching students personification is a great way to develop their creative writing skills and imagination. It is also a vital tool for enhancing the language and writing skills of students. Personification helps students to understand an object or a concept more profoundly, making the story more relatable and engaging. Here are some activities you can use to teach students to use personification.
1. Find examples in literature
One of the best ways to introduce personification is to find examples in literature and explore them. Using popular children’s stories, such as “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss, “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter. Identify and highlight personification in these works and read aloud to the class. Discuss why authors use this literary device and how it can enhance storytelling. This will serve as an excellent starting point for students to understand how this device works.
2. Personify objects in the classroom
Another fun activity would be to ask students to personify items that they see in the classroom. For example, they could write a dialogue between the door and the hallway, or the chalkboard and the eraser. Encourage students to use descriptive language to bring these inanimate objects to life and make their stories as imaginative and realistic as possible. The teacher can also participate in the activity, adding more fun to it.
3. Create a personification writing prompt
This activity can be used as both a writing prompt and a personification prompt. Provide students with a list of inanimate objects, such as pencil, tree, sun, and so on. Tell them to choose one and write a story or a poem that includes personification. Encourage them to use descriptive words and create a vivid picture of their chosen object’s personality. This exercise will challenge their imagination and help them make their writing more engaging.
4. Follow up with games
Games related to personification help students internalize the concept and reinforce their understanding. “Personification Charades” and “Personification Pictionary” are two games that can make learning more interactive and idea-generating.
Personification Charades – Divide your class into two teams. Ask each team to choose an object, which they will not reveal to the other team. Then, call on one student to act out the object’s personality without speaking, while their team tries to guess what their object is. This game is perfect for reinforcing that students quickly see personification in new situations.
Personification Pictionary – In this game, students take turns drawing objects with distinctly human attributes. The other team must try to guess what the object is and describe its personality traits. It is an excellent way to turn personification into a fun and memorable activity.
Final Thoughts
Teaching personification to students helps improve their writing, creativity, and imaginative skills. When students have a better understanding of what personification is, they can easily apply it to their writing and make their work more engaging. These activities will make learning an enjoyable and memorable experience while reinforcing knowledge. Ultimately, the use of personification enhances students’ language skills and helps solidify their ability to communicate more effectively.