ELA Bell Ringer for Grades 6–8: Similes versus metaphors
A free ELA bell ringer for grades 6–8. Put the prompt on the board as students walk in, give them three to five minutes, then go over it together. The answer and teacher notes are in the box below the prompt.
The prompt
Label each sentence as a simile or a metaphor. Then write one of your own about your morning.
- After the bell, the hallway was a river of backpacks.
- My little brother eats cereal like a vacuum cleaner.
- The full moon looked like a shiny coin in the sky.
Answer and teacher notes
1. Metaphor. 2. Simile. 3. Simile.
A simile compares two things using "like" or "as." A metaphor says one thing is another. Quick check: if you can spot "like" or "as" doing the comparing, it's a simile. For the student sentences, ask what the comparison helps the reader picture.
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