• Home
  • Books
    • Sharks Unhooked: The Adventures of Cristina Zenato, Underwater Ranger
    • Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea
    • A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
    • Planet Ocean
    • Eavesdropping on Elephants
    • Neema’s Reason To Smile
    • Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
    • Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem
    • Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    • Ebola: Fears and Facts
    • Jingle the Brass
    • Nugget on the Flight Deck
    • Surviving Animal Attacks
    • Elite Operations series
    • Energy Lab series
    • QuickReads Fluency Library
    • Books for English language-learners
    • Writers write all kinds of things
  • Author Visit Programs
    • FAQs
    • Calendar
  • Blog
  • Educator Resources
    • STEM + Literacy Activities
    • Teacher Guides
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
    • LitLinks
    • KidLit creators who make kids want to read
  • Writer Resources
    • Writing Classes
    • Manuscript or Proposal Critiques
    • How I got my start
  • Who is Patricia Newman?
  • Contact
    • Stay In Touch
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
Patricia NewmanPatricia Newman
Sibert Honor Children's Book Author & Environmentalist
  • Home
  • Books
    • Sharks Unhooked: The Adventures of Cristina Zenato, Underwater Ranger
    • Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea
    • A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
    • Planet Ocean
    • Eavesdropping on Elephants
    • Neema’s Reason To Smile
    • Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
    • Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem
    • Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    • Ebola: Fears and Facts
    • Jingle the Brass
    • Nugget on the Flight Deck
    • Surviving Animal Attacks
    • Elite Operations series
    • Energy Lab series
    • QuickReads Fluency Library
    • Books for English language-learners
    • Writers write all kinds of things
  • Author Visit Programs
    • FAQs
    • Calendar
  • Blog
  • Educator Resources
    • STEM + Literacy Activities
    • Teacher Guides
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
    • LitLinks
    • KidLit creators who make kids want to read
  • Writer Resources
    • Writing Classes
    • Manuscript or Proposal Critiques
    • How I got my start
  • Who is Patricia Newman?
  • Contact
    • Stay In Touch
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
figures-of-speech-figurative-language

LitLinks: Quick poetry lessons on the power of figurative language

January 15, 2025 LitLinks, LitLinks-Grade 3-5, LitLinks-Grade 6-8, LitLinks-Grade K-2 No Comments
LitLinks Logo-2022

GUEST BLOGGER LYDIA LUKIDIS


Up-Up-High-cover

I love STEM but I also love poetry. Children’s literature is the perfect place to merge those two passions using figurative language! That’s what I did with my latest STEM book, UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere illustrated by Katie Rewse and published by Capstone Editions, a Capstone imprint.

The narrative journeys up, up high into Earth’s atmosphere and takes readers on an imagined journey to discover the surprising and wondrous things flying, floating, and happening between the treetops and the stars. Because our planet is so mysterious and mesmerizing, lyrical language provided the perfect structure.

Figurative language

Figurative language employs words or phrases in a non-literal way. Writers often use figurative language to add depth and creativity to their writing. It’s also a great way to show rather than tell your message.

Here are some quick poetry lessons that feature figurative language. Ask students to read the definitions below and check out the examples I used from my book. Students can make up a new way to use these poetic devices.

Up-Up-High-interior-image
From Up, Up High: The Secret Poerty of Earth’s Atmosphere by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Katie Rewse (Capstone Editions, 2025)
Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is using a word that makes a sound close to the action it refers to.

Example:

And then . . .

PLOOF!

The parachutes

pop open.

SPLASH!

The spacecraft

plops into the sea.

Student example: _______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Alliteration

Alliteration is repeating the first letter or sound of several words near one another.

Example:

The spacecraft shakes

as it slices through

a slew of storm clouds.

Student example: _______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Simile

Simile is comparing two unlikely things, usually using the words “like,” “as,” or “than.”

Example:

Thunder roars like a lion,

and lightning flashes.

Example:

For a split second,

strange red lights

called sprites

glimmer,

like ghostly jellyfish.

Student example: _______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Personification

Personification is giving human characteristics to something nonhuman.

Example:

Soon the entire window

begins to glow

as an aurora

dances across the horizon.

Student example: _______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Download more classroom exercises.

Featured image credit: “Figures of Speech” by Enokson is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.


Lydia-Lukidis-headshot

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024) and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and Cybils Award nominee. A science enthusiast from a young age, Lydia now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

  • Website & to order UP, UP HIGH
  • Blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Bluesky

Click for more LITLINKS STEM + Literacy activities

Tags: STEM+LiteracySTEM+Literacy Physical Science
No Comments
Share
0

You also might be interested in

2954290335_1a8dd5ec8d

LitLinks: Superpower science – Engineering design + language arts

Aug 14, 2019

GUEST BLOGGER: RANI IYER Who doesn’t have a favorite superhero?[...]

scientist1

LitLinks: How to write fiction like a scientist – think disasters

Apr 27, 2022

GUEST BLOGGER TRACY BORGMEYER The Halley Harper: Science Girl Extraordinaire[...]

Crow-track-in-snow

LitLinks: How to write winter poetry through animal eyes

Jan 3, 2024

GUEST BLOGGER BUFFY SILVERMAN Walk outside on a winter day,[...]

Leave a Reply

Your email is safe with me.
Cancel Reply

Click the logo to have LitLinks delivered to your inbox

LitLinks Logo-2022

Author Visits

https://youtu.be/zj6n-RFOcPA?si=8WCTnyXbTiwYumYo
https://youtu.be/ziN0UrqaDYI

Earth Day Every Day Newsletter Archive

Earth-Day-Every-Day-newsletter-banner

Post Categories:

Blog Archive

Top Posts

LitLinks: How to share our ocean connections with kids and teens

LitLinks: Let’s learn to decode photos in STEM nonfiction

LitLinks: How Elephants Can Make Your Sound Unit ROAR!

LitLinks: Easy ways to build students’ science communication skills

Proof that science connects kids to the larger world

Recent Comments

  • Danna Smith on LitLinks: Did you know goats can teach children about homonyms? I love this series of books!
  • Raven Howell on LitLinks: Did you know goats can teach children about homonyms? Absolutely love this piece you wrote! Thanks for sharing your…
  • Annie Lynn on LitLinks: 3 easy ways to use animals to introduce onomatopoeia Wonderful idea to link sounds and musical instruments to nature…
Empowering young readers to act

Latest Blog Posts

  • LitLinks: How playing with existing ideas might lead to new ones
    LitLinks: How playing with existing ideas might lead to new ones
  • LitLinks: How to create a sniffing map to explore our sense of smell
    LitLinks: How to create a sniffing map to explore our sense of smell
  • LitLinks: Sound maps help kids focus on the sounds of nature
    LitLinks: Sound maps help kids focus on the sounds of nature

Connect with me on social media

Action Shots

Check out the STEM Tuesday Blog

© 2025 — Patricia Newman

  • Home
  • Books
    • Sharks Unhooked: The Adventures of Cristina Zenato, Underwater Ranger
    • Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea
    • A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
    • Planet Ocean
    • Eavesdropping on Elephants
    • Neema’s Reason To Smile
    • Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
    • Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem
    • Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    • Ebola: Fears and Facts
    • Jingle the Brass
    • Nugget on the Flight Deck
    • Surviving Animal Attacks
    • Elite Operations series
    • Energy Lab series
    • QuickReads Fluency Library
    • Books for English language-learners
    • Writers write all kinds of things
  • Author Visit Programs
    • FAQs
    • Calendar
  • Blog
  • Educator Resources
    • STEM + Literacy Activities
    • Teacher Guides
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
    • LitLinks
    • KidLit creators who make kids want to read
  • Writer Resources
    • Writing Classes
    • Manuscript or Proposal Critiques
    • How I got my start
  • Who is Patricia Newman?
  • Contact
    • Stay In Touch
    • Earth Day Every Day newsletter archive
Prev Next