4th grade reading Worksheets, word lists and activities ... - Free Printable

It looks like you've uploaded a worksheet titled "Metaphors" from SCHOLASTIC, designed to help students understand and work with metaphors in language. Let's go through the task step by step, solve it, and explain each part.

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🔹 Task Overview

The worksheet asks students to:
1. Identify metaphors in a poem.
2. Rewrite one metaphor as a simile.
3. Write a short paragraph about a new metaphor for the poem.
4. Determine which metaphor is most effective and why.

Let’s break it down using the content provided.

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✔ Step 1: Read the Poem and Answer "What's the fuss?"

Poem:

> One time in an orange dinghy
> sailing across a calm sea
> it is a gold sun,
> dipped in mossy green in Heaven.
>
> The boat is a yellow beach ball,
> bobbed high above the summer sky.
>
> It is a red church spire,
> on a sheet of pale blue paper.
>
> One time in a pink bubble,
> riding in a puddle.

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Now, let's analyze what this poem is doing.

#### 🌟 What’s the fuss?

This poem uses metaphors—comparisons that say something *is* something else—to describe the experience of being in a small boat (dinghy) on the water. Each line compares the boat or scene to something unexpected and imaginative.

For example:
- "One time in an orange dinghy" → sets the scene.
- "it is a gold sun" → the boat becomes the sun.
- "dipped in mossy green in Heaven" → the water is like green moss in the sky? This is poetic and surreal.

But wait — the poem doesn't actually describe the boat consistently. Instead, it shifts perspectives and comparisons.

Let’s look at the metaphors:

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✔ Step 2: Identify the Metaphors

A metaphor directly states that one thing *is* another (without "like" or "as").

Here are the metaphors in the poem:

1. "it is a gold sun" → The boat is compared to the sun.
2. "dipped in mossy green in Heaven" → The water or sky is described as mossy green in heaven (a metaphor for the environment).
3. "The boat is a yellow beach ball" → Direct comparison: boat = beach ball.
4. "It is a red church spire" → The boat is now a church spire.
5. "on a sheet of pale blue paper" → The sky or water is like paper (the background).
6. "One time in a pink bubble" → The boat is now a bubble.
7. "riding in a puddle" → The water is a puddle, but also suggests a tiny, contained world.

So, the metaphors are:

- The boat is a gold sun.
- The boat is a yellow beach ball.
- The boat is a red church spire.
- The boat is a pink bubble.
- The water/sky is a sheet of pale blue paper.
- The sea is a puddle.

Note: Some lines are more abstract, but all use metaphorical language.

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✔ Step 3: Rewrite One Metaphor as a Simile

Simile uses "like" or "as" to make a comparison.

Let’s pick:
> "The boat is a yellow beach ball"

Rewrite as a simile:
> The boat is like a yellow beach ball.

Or:
> The boat bobs like a yellow beach ball.

✔ That’s a valid simile.

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✔ Step 4: Pick a New Metaphor and Write a Paragraph

Example:
> "The boat is a tiny dragonfly skimming over a mirror."

Paragraph:
This metaphor suggests the boat is light, graceful, and delicate, moving swiftly over still water. A dragonfly is often seen gliding just above the surface of a pond, so comparing the boat to a dragonfly emphasizes its small size and gentle motion. The idea of a “mirror” for the water adds to the sense of calm and reflection, making the whole scene feel peaceful and magical. This metaphor captures not just the appearance of the boat, but also the feeling of being in harmony with nature.

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✔ Step 5: Which Metaphor is Most Effective and Why?

Let’s choose:
> "The boat is a yellow beach ball"

Why it's effective:
- It creates a vivid image of brightness and playfulness.
- A beach ball is associated with summer, fun, and floating — matching the joyful tone of the poem.
- The contrast between the small boat and the large, colorful beach ball makes the scene feel whimsical and imaginative.
- It helps readers visualize the boat bobbing up and down in the water, just like a beach ball.

Alternatively, some might prefer:
> "The boat is a pink bubble"
Because it evokes fragility, fleeting joy, and the idea of being enclosed in a moment — very dreamlike.

But "yellow beach ball" stands out for its clarity, color, and emotional warmth.

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✔ Final Answers

#### 1. List the metaphors in the poem:
- The boat is a gold sun.
- The boat is a yellow beach ball.
- The boat is a red church spire.
- The boat is a pink bubble.
- The water/sky is a sheet of pale blue paper.
- The sea is a puddle.

#### 2. Rewrite one metaphor as a simile:
- Original: "The boat is a yellow beach ball."
- Simile: "The boat is like a yellow beach ball."

#### 3. New metaphor and paragraph:
> "The boat is a tiny dragonfly skimming over a mirror."
> This metaphor paints a picture of grace and delicacy. Like a dragonfly hovering just above water, the boat moves lightly, almost without disturbing the surface. The mirror-like water reflects the sky, adding a sense of stillness and beauty. This image enhances the dreamy, peaceful mood of the poem, suggesting that the journey is not just physical but also a moment of quiet wonder.

#### 4. Most effective metaphor and why:
> "The boat is a yellow beach ball" is most effective because it combines bright imagery with movement and fun. It clearly conveys the buoyancy and cheerful energy of the scene, helping readers feel the joy of a sunny day on the water. The metaphor is simple yet powerful, making it easy to visualize and emotionally engaging.

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