Copyright © 2007 by Cottonwood Press, Inc.
The activities in Metaphors and More are copyrighted by Cottonwood Press, Inc. However, per-
mission is granted to reproduce the activities for the purchaser s own personal use in the class-
room, provided that the copyright notice appears on each reproduction. Otherwise, no part of
this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permis-
sion from Cottonwood Press, Inc.
Requests for permission should be addressed to:
Cottonwood Press, Inc.
109-B Cameron Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Website: www.cottonwoodpress.com
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Print ISBN: 978-1-877673-87-0
E-book ISBN: 978-1-877673-99-3
Onomatopoeia
Name
Invent a New Sound
I
n
v
e
n
t
a
N
e
w
S
o
u
n
d
A. Choose 10 sounds from the box below. For each sound, invent a word that demonstrates
onomatopoeia.* Remember, your word must be a new word, not one that s been used before
for this sound.
B. For each new word, write a sentence that demonstrates its use.
1. the sound of someone typing on a computer keyboard
2. the sound of a refrigerator door closing
3. the noise of students changing classes after the bell rings
4. the sound of a dentist s drill
5. the sound of a tea kettle whistling
6. the sound of someone opening a can of soda
7. the sound of a running stream in the mountains
8. the sound of a car accelerating quickly
9. the sound of a pencil in an automatic pencil sharpener
10. the sound of hail on a rooftop
11. the sound of a lawn mower
12. the sound of chalk squeaking on an old-fashioned chalkboard
13. the sound of the last bit of ketchup being squeezed from a plastic bottle
14. the sound of a steak hitting the grill
15. the sound of a city bus coming to a stop
16. the sound of clothes tumbling in a dryer
17. the sound of a basketball bouncing
18. the sound of a garbage disposal
19. the sound of a squirrel nibbling seeds
20. the sound of a pen scribbling on a notebook
*Onomatopoeia is the use of a word that sounds like its meaning.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
3
Onomatopoeia Name
Whap! Snap! Zoom!
W
h
a
p
!
S
n
a
p
!
Z
o
o
m
!
Draw your own comic strip that uses onomatopoeic* words. The characters in your comic strip
can be drawn elaborately, or you can use simple stick figures if you don t feel particularly artistic.
Use at least 10 words in your story.
Your story should be told in 10-20 panels. You can invent your own story, or you can flesh
out one of the plots below:
1. a male superhero rescues a beautiful damsel in distress
2. a female superhero rescues a handsome man in distress
3. a superheroic animal rescues a beautiful damsel in distress and a handsome man in dis-
tress
4. an evil creature turns a nice teacher into a frog
5. a nice teacher turns an evil creature into a frog
You can choose from these and any other onomatopoeic words you like.
argh crunch ping snap
bash ding plop splash
beep drip pop splatter
belch fizz pow stomp
blab gasp quack thud
blare giggle rattle thump
blurt gobble ring toot
bonk hiccup roar twang
boom hiss rustle wham
buzz honk screech whisper
chirp hum shuffle zap
clang jingle sigh zip
clank knock sizzle
clap mumble slurp
click munch smack
crackle nibble smash
*Onomatopoeia is the use of a word that sounds like its meaning.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
4
é
Cliché
Name
Cliché after Cliché after Cliché
C
l
i
c
h
é
a
f
t
e
r
C
l
i
c
h
é
a
f
t
e
r
C
l
i
c
h
é
Part I
P
a
r
t
I
Clichés* are such a normal part of our speech that we usually aren t even aware that we are using
them. There is nothing wrong with using clichés in most everyday conversation. However, for
speeches or most kinds of writing, it is best to avoid them.
Why? Clichés are so common that they don t have a lot of power. When we hear or read
them, the meaning flows right over us and we barely notice what is being said.
The first step in learning to avoid clichés is learning to recognize them. Look over the list of
common clichés in the box below. Then see how many clichés you can use in a one-page descrip-
tion of one of the following:
" what happened when the campers saw Big Foot
" the story of how Joe Schmoe and Lillian Schmillian met and fell in love
bent out of shape shoot the breeze butterflies in his stomach
climbing the walls a slam dunk got cold feet
fighting like cats and dogs a smoking gun cool your heels
go through the roof stick to your guns grinning from ear to ear
cost an arm and a leg took the wind out of her sails hit the nail on the head
Let s clear the air. There s no time like the pres- hit the sack
It s theirs to lose. ent. Keep your chin up.
This one is in the bag. tugged at my heartstrings Know which side your bread is
chip off the old block the whole enchilada buttered on.
deer in the headlights got a bone to pick Give me a hand.
And the rest is history. lay your cards on the table knuckle under
snug as a bug in a rug look before you leap made of money
barking up the wrong tree lost his shirt make ends meet
by the skin of my teeth cost a pretty penny My hands are tied.
Cat got your tongue? catch some zzzzzzs over the hill
got off on the wrong foot chewed me out pick of the litter
fell head over heels gave her the cold shoulder play with the big boys
jump the gun blow a gasket put your foot in your mouth
last but not least give it a whirl put two and two together
love is blind good rule of thumb put your heart in it
madder than a wet hen go the extra mile quiet as a mouse
no strings attached take five read the fine print
rotten to the core That s the way the ball save your breath
sweep under the rug bounces. sick as a dog
stop on a dime twiddling your thumbs the spitting image of
toot your own horn Don t reinvent the wheel. all washed up
What s wrong with this pic- right on the money like a fish out of water
ture? over my head make my day
works like a charm fit as a fiddle neat as pie
easy as pie fat chance heard it through the grapevine
get out of my hair lost his lunch better safe than sorry
get with the program all thumbs like two peas in a pod
go out on a limb asleep at the wheel beat around the bush
in over his head as the crow flies
*A cliché is an expression that has lost its power or originality from overuse.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
5
é
Cliché
Name
Cliché after Cliché after Cliché
C
l
i
c
h
é
a
f
t
e
r
C
l
i
c
h
é
a
f
t
e
r
C
l
i
c
h
é
Part II
P
a
r
t
I
I
Now it s time to eliminate the clichés. Take what you wrote for  Cliché after Cliché after Cliché,
Part I and replace all the clichés. (Be careful not to replace them with another cliché!) Try to be
as original as possible in the new version of your story. You may want to replace some of the
clichés with only a word or two. Sometimes, simple is best.
Example
Here is the first paragraph of one student s story, with clichés:
f
i
g
h
t
i
n
g
l
i
k
e
c
a
t
s
a
n
d
d
o
g
s
My little sister Penelope and I were fighting like cats and dogs. Mom asked us to be
quiet as a mouse so she could catch some zzzzs, but we were climbing the walls. Suddenly,
q
u
i
e
t
a
s
a
m
o
u
s
e
c
a
t
c
h
s
o
m
e
z
z
z
z
s
c
l
i
m
b
i
n
g
t
h
e
w
a
l
l
s
b
l
e
w
a
g
a
s
k
e
t
c
h
e
w
e
d
u
s
o
u
t
m
a
d
d
e
r
t
h
a
n
a
w
e
t
h
e
n
Mom blew a gasket and chewed us out. She looked madder than a wet hen. When Mom s
r
u
l
e
o
f
t
h
u
m
b
o
u
t
o
f
h
e
r
h
a
i
r
w
o
r
k
s
l
i
k
e
a
c
h
a
r
m
mad, a good rule of thumb is to get out of her hair it works like a charm. Penelope and I
t
w
i
d
d
l
i
n
g
o
u
r
t
h
u
m
b
s
stopped twiddling our thumbs and decided to go camping.
Here it is without clichés:
My little sister Penelope and I were fighting like that cranky couple at the end of our
block who has been married for 50 years. Mom asked us to be quiet so she could sleep, but
we were restless and just couldn t keep quiet. Suddenly, Mom gave up any hold on patience
and yelled at us. She looked so mad that we knew we shouldn t get in her way again. When
Mom s mad, the best idea is to disappear and give her some time alone then she s always
happy to see us when we come back. Penelope and I stopped being bored and decided to go
camping.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
6
Metaphor
Name
Is Happiness a Warm Puppy?
I
s
H
a
p
p
i
n
e
s
s
a
W
a
r
m
P
u
p
p
y
?
In the comic strip Peanuts, Charlie Brown is noted for the line,  Happiness is a warm puppy.
That simple metaphor* expresses the kind of joy many people feel about their pets.
Write some Charlie Brown-like metaphors of your own. Complete each of the following to
make meaningful metaphors:
1. Happiness is& .
2. Patience is&
3. Disaster is&
4. Relief is&
5. Hope is&
6. Anger is...
7. Beauty is&
8. Disappointment is...
*A metaphor compares or equates two different things, without using the words  like or  as.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
7
Metaphor Name
Music to My Ears
M
u
s
i
c
t
o
M
y
E
a
r
s
If your grandmother gives you a hug and says,  Your voice is music to my ears, she is using a
metaphor.* She is also using a cliché, since  music to my ears is an expression that is used so
often. Many common metaphors are also clichés.
Below is a list of clichéd metaphors. Think about what each one means. (If you don t know,
ask someone or look it up.) Then rewrite the sentences, replacing each clichéd metaphor with
something more original.
Example: You are the rock of this family.
Rewritten: You are the tent stakes holding this family to the earth.
1. You must remember that life is a journey.
2. His lies were a tangled web.
3. The announcement was a slap in the face.
4. The teacher was a breath of fresh air.
5. In the big city, he was a fish out of water.
6. My mother is a tower of strength.
7. The argument is water under the bridge.
8. Her smile is a ray of sunshine.
*A metaphor compares or equates two different things, without using the words  like or  as.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
8
Alliteration
Name
Countless Consonants
C
o
u
n
t
l
e
s
s
C
o
n
s
o
n
a
n
t
s
What makes tongue twisters so difficult to say? Partly, it is the alliteration.* It s hard to get our
tongues to repeat the same sound so frequently.
Try writing some tongue twisters of your own, simply by using alliteration. Choose any 10 of
the consonants below. Then write an alliterative sentence for each. Make sure each sentence is at
least seven words long.
A N
B P
C Q
D R
F S
G T
H V
J W
K X (ex)
L Y
M Z
*Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound in words occurring near one another.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
9
Alliteration Name
A Silly Selection of Surly Swans
A
S
i
l
l
y
S
e
l
e
c
t
i
o
n
o
f
S
u
r
l
y
S
w
a
n
s
A silly selection of surly swans
A colorful collection of crazy camels
A brainy bunch of blond boys
What do the phrases above have in common? Each shows alliteration.* Each also fits this pattern:
a/an adjective noun of adjective noun
See how alliterative you can be. Create an alliterative phrase by filling in the appropriate words in
the patterns below.
1. a/an adjective clump of adjective noun
2. a/an adjective gathering of adjective noun
3. a/an adjective trunk of adjective noun
4. a/an adjective noun of adjective skunks
5. a/an adjective noun of adjective Jell-o
6. a/an adjective noun of adjective liver
7. a/an adjective noun of drowsy noun
8. a/an adjective noun of hot noun
9. a/an selfish noun of adjective noun
10. a/an marvelous noun of adjective noun
*Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound in words occurring near one another.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
10
Hyperbole
Name
I m so Hungry, I Could...
I

m
s
o
H
u
n
g
r
y
,
I
C
o
u
l
d
.
.
.
A statement that involves hyperbole* can also be a cliché.
Take the statement,  He was so hungry he could eat a horse. It involves hyperbole. (No one
is really hungry enough to eat an entire horse.) But it is used so often that it is also a cliché. It has
absolutely no originality at all.
How could you change the statement so that it still involves hyperbole, but is no longer a
cliché? Here s one idea:
He was so hungry he opened his mouth to trap bugs
while riding his motorcycle to the nearest restaurant.
Each of the following statements uses hyperbole, and each is also a cliché. Rewrite the state-
ments so that they still involve hyperbole but show more originality. Be creative!
1. He is as strong as an ox.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. I m so tired I could sleep for a year.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. She has tons of money.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4. He is older than the hills.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
*Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that should not be taken literally.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
11
Hyperbole Name
Tall Tale
T
a
l
l
T
a
l
e
One of the most common and most fun uses of hyperbole* is in tall tales. Tall tales often
involve a hero, like the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe. They were suppos-
edly so large that their footsteps created Minnesota s ten thousand lakes. Another example is the
less well-known Alfred Bulltop Stormalong, an immense sailor whose ship was so big it was said
to scrape the moon.
You re the writer now.
Your hero is a character named S.T. Smozenstossle.
Make a list of five amazing things about S.T. Smozenstossle.
Here are some questions to consider in coming up with your list:
" What is amazing about S.T.? Is he/she amazingly tall, smart, strong, beautiful, handsome,
talented, or......?
" Does S.T. save people? Create things? Get revenge? Save landmarks? Come up with solu-
tions to problems. Or.....?
You might want to use this form for your list:
S.T. Smozenstossle was so _____________________ that he/she _________________________
__________________________________________________________________________.
*Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration that should not be taken literally.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
12
Euphemism
Name
Being Kind
B
e
i
n
g
K
i
n
d
Sometimes euphemisms* are helpful. They can make a difficult message sting less.
Suppose Simon on the television show American Idol used euphemisms. Instead of saying,
 You are the worst singer in the history of the universe, he might say something like this:
Perhaps you could find a way to participate in the music industry in a way that doesn t involve singing.
Imagine that the following people need to say something difficult. Supply each with a
euphemistic way of saying what they really mean.
1. Parents: We absolutely forbid you to see your friend Smart Mouth ever again!
Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. President of the U.S. to a foreign power: Your country is acting real stupid.
Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Policeman to parents: I arrested your son. He s in jail. If you want him out, come talk to me.
Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Brother to little sister: Your hamster just croaked.
Using euphemisms: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
*A euphemism is a polite word or phrase used in place of one that may be too direct, unpleasant,
or embarrassing.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
13
Euphemism Name
Coating It with Honey
C
o
a
t
i
n
g
I
t
w
i
t
h
H
o
n
e
y
When parents want their children to take terrible-tasting medicine, they sometimes mix it with a
thick tablespoon of honey. The honey makes the bitter medicine go down easier.
Euphemisms* are the honey of the world of words. They can make difficult messages less
blunt. They can also obscure the message entirely! Often, statements filled with euphemisms are
hard to figure out. What is the person really trying to say?
A. Here are some statements that use euphemisms. The meanings are not very clear. Rewrite
each statement so that its meaning is clear.
1. You are not a person I would choose to spend any time with on a regular basis primarily
because your personality is not compatible with mine and I prefer to keep my distance.
Direct: ____________________________________________________________________
2. Whenever I have to eat asparagus, my stomach feels rather unsettled and I often find myself in
the position of having my dinner show up in a manner that is rather embarrassing.
Direct: ____________________________________________________________________
3. I have determined that your employment with this company has run its course and that it is
time for you to pursue other interests as we attempt to find a replacement whose attitude is
more in line with our company philosophy.
Direct: ____________________________________________________________________
4. I see that you have bought new shoes, and they are very attractive in design and color.
However, I m not sure they flatter your feet from the perspective of size.
Direct: ____________________________________________________________________
B. Now use euphemisms to honey-coat the following:
5. You are the worst driver ever!
With euphemisms: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
6. Your cooking stinks.
With euphemisms: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
*A euphemism is a polite word or phrase used in place of one that may be too direct, unpleasant,
or embarrassing.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
14
Simile
Name
Make a Connection
M
a
k
e
a
C
o
n
n
e
c
t
i
o
n
A simile is an expression that compares one thing to another, using the words  like or  as. Here
are a few similes you have probably heard before:
quiet as a mouse, as strong as a bull, as sweet as honey, fly like an eagle,
eat like a bird, fight like cats and dogs
The list on the left in the box below below contains adjectives. The list on the right contains
nouns. Draw lines connecting each adjective with a noun, in any order you wish. Then choose six
of your match-ups and write a simile explaining each. For example, if you connected  busy and
 carpenter, your simile might be  as busy as an overworked carpenter s hammer.
The first item is done for you.
1. Joe is as stubborn as a kite caught in a wild
Adjectives Nouns
updraft. .
smart water
tired kite
2.
busy daisy
sour feather
smooth candy
3.
mean bubble
happy pizza
messy dog
clean basketball
4.
new airplane
gentle mud
slow cloud
5.
difficult train
fast road
sharp skyscraper
fresh coat
6.
sad hammer
stubborn snow
strong coffee
7.
soft table
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
15
Simile Name
Romantic Fred
R
o
m
a
n
t
i
c
F
r
e
d
Poor Fred. He s in love with Natasha, and he s written her a love letter that is full of similes.* (He
heard once that poets use similes a lot, and he thinks poetry is romantic.)
Fred needs help, though. His similes are terrible not the kind of language that s going to
impress Natasha. Help him out by rewriting his letter, using similes that might make Natasha a lit-
tle bit happier than the ones he has chosen.
Dearest Natasha:
You are as pretty as a floor that has just been scrubbed and waxed.
Your hair is as black and shiny as asphalt on a hot road. Your eyes are
as green as pond scum. Your lips are like raw hamburger a bright,
beautiful red.
Your voice is as sweet as a sugar substitute, and your smile lights up a
room like the lights on a patrol car when it is pulling over someone
for speeding or driving while drinking.
I love you, Natasha. I will be as happy as a turkey that escapes the
chopping block on Thanksgiving if you agree to marry me.
Love,
Fred
*A simile is an expression comparing one thing to another, using the words  like or  as.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
16
Idiom
Name
A Wild Goose Chase Has No Geese
A
W
i
l
d
G
o
o
s
e
C
h
a
s
e
H
a
s
N
o
G
e
e
s
e
Idioms are very, very hard for people learning a new language. An idiom is an expression with a
meaning different from the literal meaning of the individual words. For example, if someone says,
 He sent us on a wild goose chase, that person is not talking about anything at all involving
geese. You just have to know that  wild goose chase is an idiom meaning,  a frustrating search
that leads nowhere.
Similarly, if someone says, insensitively,  My neighbor kicked the bucket, she is not talking
about anything having to do with buckets. You just have to know that  kicked the bucket is an
idiom for  died.
Below are sentences using 15 idioms that are common in English. Imagine that you don t
know the meaning of these expressions and are trying to figure out the meaning just by looking at
the words themselves. Write what you might imagine the sentences to mean. The first one is
done for you.
1. Claire knew the ropes, so she showed the new student around.
Claire had met and shaken hands with the ropes and gotten to know them, so she
showed the new student around.
2. Josh knew the song by heart.
3. Mr. Gomez turned a blind eye to the misbehavior in the back of the room.
4. Little Sara burst into tears when her big brother ran over her Barbie doll with his truck.
5.  I guess it won t break the bank, said Elena s father when she asked for a new bike.
6.  This report on Nebraska doesn t even scratch the surface, said Ms. Yamaguchi.
7. No one wanted to be around Savanna because she cried at the drop of a hat.
8. Tony s grandpa said,  I m as fit as a fiddle.
9. When asked if he could fix the printer, Zach said,  It s a piece of cake!
10. When her neighbors asked her if she wanted to babysit every weekend for the entire summer,
Lyndsey answered,  Maybe. But let me sleep on it before I tell you for sure.
11.  Here. Let me lend you a hand, said Henry s father.
12. David stared at his algebra assignment and said,  I can t make heads or tails of this.
13.  You can talk until you re blue in the face, said Audrey s mother,  but I m still not moving
your curfew to 2:00 a.m.
14.  I don t know why the company is dragging its feet on this decision, said Jackson.
15. Brandy has been down in the dumps for about three weeks now.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
17
Idiom Name
Break a Leg!
B
r
e
a
k
a
L
e
g
!
Idioms* are so common in the English language that most of us aren t even aware that we are
using them. See if you can find all 25 idioms in the story below.
 I got such a kick out of watching our students present High School Musical, said Mrs.
Adducci.  Those kids made the singing look like a piece of cake and the dancing look as easy as
pie. And the acting? I thought they would be in over their heads, but they really pulled it off.
 You re right, said Miss Triblehorn.  The costumes were just to die for, and the scenery was
so great it must have cost an arm and a leg. This show became the hottest ticket in town!
 I really thought the kids were biting off more than they could chew, said Mr. Gutting, the
director.  If I d had my druthers, they would have picked something easier. To make it even
worse, some kids were really bent out of shape because they didn t get the roles they wanted.
Then the flu hit, and half the cast was under the weather for many of the rehearsals. But they
kept their nose to the grindstone, and there at the end they were really burning the midnight oil.
 They were getting on each other s nerves during dress rehearsal, said the musical director,
Miss Wegter,  and a lot of them were rubbing each other the wrong way. I was crossing my fingers
that a couple of them didn t tear into each other.
 But others were certainly getting along well. The leading man lost his head over the leading
lady, said Mr. Gutting.
 Really? I was in the dark about that, said Miss Wegter.
 I guess I let the cat out of the bag. They were quite the item. However, I thought he was
going to fall apart at the seams when he saw her leave with one of the other guys one night. But
they were just friends. It turns out she was head over heels with the leading man, too.
 The two of them really brought the house down when they came out for bows at the end of
the show, said Mrs. Adducci.  It was wonderful!
*An idiom is an expression with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the individual
words.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
18
Oxymoron
Name
Opposites Attract
O
p
p
o
s
i
t
e
s
A
t
t
r
a
c
t
An oxymoron combines two terms that seem incompatible or contradictory. For example,  jumbo
shrimp. We use  shrimp to describe something very small because a shrimp really is very small.
Therefore,  jumbo shrimp seems contradictory, even though we know it refers to the largest of
small shrimp.
a
l
o
n
e
t
o
g
e
t
h
e
r
Another example: The two of them were alone together. Here again is a contradiction.  Alone
means to be by yourself, while  together means to be with someone else.
Below are 40 combinations of words. Only 20 of them are oxymora (the plural of oxymoron).
Consider them all carefully and circle the 20 that are oxymora.
1. jumbo shrimp 21. black light
2. safety hazard 22. hair dryer
3. healthy tan 23. ripe watermelon
4. simple Simon 24. clearly confused
5. dozen doughnuts 25. dull roar
6. accurate estimate 26. firm pillow
7. baby grand 27. fresh frozen
8. act naturally 28. fuzzy wuzzy
9. advanced beginner 29. good grief
10. interesting comment 30. final exam
11. tall oak 31. hokey pokey
12. authentic replica 32. funny guy
13. frozen corn 33. tall tree
14. awfully nice 34. simple request
15. bad luck 35. beautiful sunset
16. baggy tights 36. least favorite
17. big baby 37. liquid smoke
18. toothbrush holder 38. loud whisper
19. paper clip 39. advanced algebra
20. dream date 40. lively discussion
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
19
Oxymoron Name
Serious Fun
S
e
r
i
o
u
s
F
u
n
Underline each oxymoron* that you see in the following story. You should be able to find 23
examples.
Alissa asked if she could go to a weekend concert and be one of the paid volunteers
taking tickets. Her father gave her a definite maybe and said he would check with
her mom.
Alissa s mother was a student teacher who rode the elevated subway into work
each day. She wouldn t be home until late, so Alissa knew she wouldn t be able to
get her answer right away.
Her dad gave her a hug, put on his dress pants, and left. He was a seriously
funny man who also played in a one-man band every other Friday night. (He was
hoping his band would become a full-time hobby.)
Alissa s parents had one adult child, her brother Aaron. Though he lived at
home, he was training for a lightweight heavyweight boxing match, so he was a sight
unseen around the house most of the time. They also had Alissa and her little sister
Jasmine. Since no one else was around, Alissa had to cook for the two of them.
 Do you want boneless ribs or jumbo shrimp for dinner? she asked.
 Shrimp, said Jasmine.
The two of them ate alone together in a loud silence.  This is awful good, said
Jasmine, trying to be nice.
Then they had slices of a fresh frozen vanilla fudge twelve-ounce pound cake
with genuine imitation chocolate bits in the frosting. She cut them in approximately
equal slices.
 That cake is pretty ugly, said Jasmine,  but it sure is good.
Finally they heard their mother s key in the lock. Her mother entered, then her
older brother, then her father. A small crowd then stood in the tiny kitchen.
Alissa decided to eat her cake before her brother grabbed it. She would ask
about the concert later.
*An oxymoron is a combination of two opposite or contradictory terms.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
20
Pun
Name
Create a Pun
C
r
e
a
t
e
a
P
u
n
Police were called to a day care center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
The sentence above is an example of a pun.* It involves a play on words the similarity between  a
rest (like a nap) and  arrest (as in going to jail).
Puns are often used as the punch line for jokes. Here s one example:
A chess club met in one of the meeting rooms of a hotel. After competition, a bunch of the
members were standing around the lobby, talking about their victories. After only a few min-
utes, the manager asked them to leave.
 But why? they asked.
 I can t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer, he said.
Now if you ve never heard the holiday song line,  Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, the
pun is not funny. (And it may not be funny to you even if you do know it. Puns often cause peo-
ple to groan, rather than laugh.)
Here s one more example of a pun:
Anna lived on one side of the state. Monique lived on the other. They both were rich and
could afford to have their hair cut by the famous Lorenzo, who lived in the middle. Both called
Lorenzo early one Saturday, desperate to have their hair done. Lorenzo had only one appoint-
ment left, at noon that day. He said he would give it to whichever woman arrived first.
Anna left immediately in her private jet, and Monique left immediately in her private
helicopter. Anna s plane had trouble and had to make an emergency landing. Monique
arrived safely for the hair appointment.
The moral of the story? The whirlybird gets the perm.
Below are eight punch lines that involve puns. Choose two of the punch lines, and construct
a story around each. Your goal is to make the punch line make sense. (The punch line should be
the last line in the story.)
1. I m worried I won t find my darling Clem in time.
2. Brother, can you spear a dime?
3. They used weapons of math disruption.
4. I m not taking this lion down.
5. Some day my prints will come.
6. Where there s a Will, there s a Wayne.
7. He was the lesser of two weevils.
8. Time wounds all heels.
*A pun is a humorous play on words, often involving double meanings.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
21
Pun Name
What s So Punny?
W
h
a
t

s
S
o
P
u
n
n
y
?
Match the sentences on the left with the sentences on the right. When matched correctly, each
will create a pun.*
1. How would a person make antifreeze? A. She has fillings, too.
2. Two peanuts were walking in the city. What B. They were assaulted.
happened to them? C. It is nothing to write home
3. Why should you be kind to your dentist? about.
4. Why don t the lions at the circus eat the D. I think I ll dye!
clowns? E. She was trying to fudge the num-
5. What is the problem if you get sick at the air- bers.
port? F. His qualifications didn t add up.
6. England doesn t have a kidney bank. What G. He had post dramatic stress dis-
does it have? order.
7. What problem did the retired actor have? H. You might have a terminal ill-
8. Even though the orthodontist was found ness.
killed with a hatchet, no one was charged. Why? I. He fully recovered.
9. Why didn t the two vultures check their dead J. It has a Liverpool.
raccoons when they went to the airport? K They wanted a bonding experi-
10. What did the triangle say to the circle? ence.
11. What did the teacher say about Johnny s L. You get repossessed.
penmanship? M. They were carrion.
12. Why was the math teacher fired? N. Steal her blanket.
13. What happened to the man who fell into the O. It was declared axe-idental.
upholstery machine? P. You re so pointless.
14. Why didn t the mime talk? Q. They taste funny.
15. The president of the company dropped her R. It wasn t aloud.
brownie onto her calculator on purpose. Why? S. He became a hardened criminal.
16. What happened when the thief fell and broke T. He didn t want to be poultry in
his leg in the cement? motion.
17. Why did the family members go to a 007 movie?
18. Why didn t the chicken cross the road?
19. What did the beautiful movie star say when she
saw her first gray hair?
20.What happens if you don t pay your exorcist?
*A pun is a humorous play on words, often involving double meanings.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
22
Answer Keys
A
n
s
w
e
r
K
e
y
s
Invent a New Sound, page 3
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. Sheldon s mom knew he was home because of the con- 11. Billy was lulled to sleep by the zumming lawn mower.
stant crickcrick of his fingers on the computer. 12. The students winced at the skreet of the chalk on the
2. After grabbing two cans of Strawberry Delight soda and a chalkboard.
mound of shaved ham from the fridge, Sally shut the 13. With a loud skwit, I got the last bit of ketchup out of the
refrigerator door with a fumpf. bottle.
3. The teacher closed her door to the scriddle-scraddle of 14. As the cold steak hit the grill with a fshh, my mouth
students in the hall. watered.
4. Ally shuddered at the shrill zwee of the dentist s drill. 15. She waited impatiently, hoping to hear the eeyurnt of the
5. Grandma ran into the kitchen when she heard the famil- bus coming to a stop.
iar phweet of the tea kettle. 16. As she entered the house, she heard the familiar wrump
6. Zach was so thirsty he could hardly wait to hear the pok- of clothes tumbling in the dryer.
shoo of a soda can being opened. 17. The basketball blumped furiously as the star player took
7. The hikers stopped and listened to the relaxing sounds of it to the basket for the win.
the pippling stream. 18. The garbage disposal chorzled on and on in the kitchen
8. Suddenly, the car went wroosh, disappearing in a cloud while I was trying to do my homework.
of dust. 19. The park was so quiet, I could hear the sound of squir-
9. The only sound in the classroom was the steady vrun of rels fwittling as they fed on seeds.
the automatic pencil sharpener. 20. The students pens busily scrittled along as they wrote
10. The thrap of hail on the rooftop kept me awake. out their brilliant essays.
Whap! Snap!
Zoom!,
page 4
Answers will
vary.
Sample
answer:
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
23
Answer Key, continued
Cliché after Cliché after Cliché, Part I, page 5
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
What Happened When the Campers Saw Bigfoot?
My little sister Penelope and I were fighting like cats and dogs. Mom asked us to be quiet as a mouse so she
could catch some zzzzs, but we were climbing the walls. Suddenly, Mom blew a gasket and chewed us out. She
looked madder than a wet hen. When Mom s mad, a good rule of thumb is to get out of her hair it works like a
charm. Penelope and I stopped twiddling our thumbs and decided to go camping.
We set out as the crow flies to find a good spot. We are both fit as a fiddle, so hiking was easy as pie. After find-
ing a spot, Penelope unpacked our tent while I looked for firewood. When I came back, she was all bent out of
shape because she couldn t figure out the tent. I gave her a hand. We took five and shot the breeze for a while. After
starting a fire and getting out the hotdogs and marshmallows, we were soon grinning from ear to ear.
When it was time to hit the sack, we heard something rustling behind our tent. Penelope looked like a deer in
the headlights. I knew I had to be the brave older sister and check it out. Better safe than sorry! Although I had but-
terflies in my stomach, I went behind the tent with my flashlight. I didn t see anything.
 I don t mean to just sweep this under the rug, but there s nothing there, I said, but Penelope was still scared.
We didn t hear anything more, so we climbed in our tent, making sure all of the zippers were zipped shut. Penelope
looked at the zippers and shrugged.  You think those flimsy zippers will keep out the monsters? Fat chance!
I told her to keep her chin up.  We have to stick to our guns and camp overnight here, or we will be afraid to go
camping again.
She didn t look convinced. I said,  I don t mean to toot my own horn, but I ve been getting pretty good at
karate. I will beat up any monster that tries to come in here! Make my day, monster! Penelope laughed as I karate-
chopped the air. Soon we were sleeping peacefully in our tent, snug as two bugs in a rug.
The next morning, we woke up early.
 I ll start a fire so we can have sausages for breakfast, I said as I unzipped the tent. Penelope stayed snuggled in
her sleeping bag, reading a book.
I looked out, and to my surprise, there, sitting on a log in front of the campfire roasting marshmallows, was the
spitting image of Bigfoot!
 Did you say you re making sausages for breakfast? he asked in a deep voice. I gasped, shutting the tent door.
Penelope asked what was wrong. I tried to beat around the bush, but she s a chip off the old block, and was immedi-
ately suspicious.
 Seriously, what s wrong?
 Bigfoot wants to eat breakfast with us, I said.
Penelope smiled.  Yeah, right.
 See for yourself.
She peeked out and then quickly ducked her head back in and zipped the tent door shut.  I can t believe it!
 I m in over my head on this one, I told her.  I m pretty sure I can t fight Bigfoot, not even with karate.
 I guess we should just invite him to eat sausages with us, she said.
 What?! How come you re not scared?
 Well, let s not jump the gun here. He seems nice. When I peeked out, he said  Hello, and asked if he could
join us for breakfast. I think we should give him a chance.
And the rest is history.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
24
Answer Key, continued
Cliché after Cliché after Cliché, Part II, page 6
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
What Happened When the Campers Saw Bigfoot?
My little sister Penelope and I were fighting like that cranky couple at the end of our block who has been mar-
ried for 50 years. Mom asked us to be quiet so she could sleep, but we were restless and just couldn t keep quiet.
Suddenly, Mom gave up any hold on patience and yelled at us. She looked so mad that we knew we shouldn t get in
her way again. When Mom s mad, the best idea is to disappear and give her some time alone then she s always
happy to see us when we come back. So, Penelope and I stopped being bored and decided to go camping.
We set out to find a good spot. We are both in shape, so hiking was easy for us. After finding a spot, Penelope
unpacked our tent while I looked for firewood. When I came back, she was upset because she couldn t figure out the
tent. I helped her. We rested and then talked for a while. After starting a fire and getting out the hot dogs and
marshmallows, we were soon smiling with satisfaction.
When it was time to go to bed, we heard something rustling behind our tent. Penelope froze. I knew I had to be
the brave older sister and check it out. I was scared, but I knew I should be sure we were safe. I went behind the tent
with my flashlight. I didn t see anything.
 There s nothing there, I said, but Penelope was still scared.
We didn t hear anything more, so we climbed in our tent, making sure all of the zippers were zipped shut.
Penelope looked at the zippers and shrugged.  You think those flimsy zippers will keep out the monsters? They
won t.
I told her to trust me and be brave.  We have to be brave and stay through the night, or we will be afraid to go
camping again.
She didn t look convinced. I said,  Remember how good I m getting at karate? I will beat up any monster that
tries to come in here! Just watch me! Penelope laughed as I karate-chopped the air. Soon we were sleeping peacefully
in our tent, calm and feeling safe.
The next morning, we woke up early.
 I ll start a fire so we can have sausages for breakfast, I said as I unzipped the tent. Penelope stayed snuggled in
her sleeping bag, reading a book.
I looked out, and to my surprise, there, sitting on a log in front of the campfire roasting marshmallows, was
Bigfoot!
 Did you say you re making sausages for breakfast? he asked in a deep voice. I gasped, shutting the tent door.
Penelope asked what was wrong. I tried to act calm, but she s too much like me. She saw I was hiding something and
was immediately suspicious.
 Seriously, what s wrong?
 Bigfoot wants to eat breakfast with us, I said.
Penelope smiled.  Yeah, right.
 See for yourself.
She peeked out and then quickly ducked her head back in and zipped the tent door shut.  I can t believe it!
 I have no idea what to do, I told her.  I m pretty sure I can t fight Bigfoot, not even with karate.
 I guess we should just invite him to eat sausages with us, she said.
 What?! How come you re not scared?
 Well, let s be reasonable and look at the facts. He seems nice. When I peeked out, he said  Hello, and asked if
he could join us for breakfast. I think we should give him a chance.
So we did, and we made a new friend.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
25
Answer Key, continued
Is Happiness a Warm Puppy?, page 7
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. Happiness is a triple scoop of chocolate chip ice cream.
2. Patience is watching a rose bush start to bud.
3. Disaster is a speeding ticket when you ve had your license for only three days.
4. Relief is having the orthodontist finally remove your braces.
5. Hope is a phone call about your lost dog.
6. Anger is a stolen bike.
7. Beauty is Olivia.
8. Disappointment is a phone call that never comes.
Music to My Ears, page 8
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. You must remember that life is a jet racing through the sky.
2. His lies were a mousetrap of deception.
3. The announcement was a glass of water poured on his head.
4. The teacher was a sparkle of laughter in the dreary meeting.
5. In the big city, he was a fiddle player in a marching band.
6. My mother is an oak tree with roots deep into the ground.
7. The argument was a burst balloon.
8. Her smile is an oasis in a desert.
Countless Consonants, page 9
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. Big burly brothers brought brooms, blooms, and black balloons.
2. Countless crazy clowns climbed carefully, clutching crutches.
3. Hundreds of hungry hornets hounded the helpless hippo herd.
4. Lots of languid, listless loons lolled lazily in the lagoon.
5. Twenty-two twins told tall tales of treacherous trails.
6. Susie s sixth sense suggested surprising suspicion and suspense.
7. Various very venomous vipers ventured vengefully and viciously.
8. Washed windows work well for watching wobbly wallabies.
9. Extra exuberant exercisers exude excellence and expect ecstasy.
10. Forty fearless flocks of flamingos fought furiously for food.
A Silly Selection of Surly Swans, page 10
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. a colorful clump of clinging clematis
2. a grand gathering of giddy girls
3. a tremendous trunk of Tasmanian treasure
4. a sneaky set of smelly skunks
5. a jumbo jar of jiggling Jell-o
6. a large lump of leathery liver
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
26
Answer Key, continued
7. a dizzy drove of drowsy dromedaries.
8. a hefty hunk of hot ham
9. a selfish society of sulky sophomores
10. a marvelous mixture of magnificent mangos
I m so Hungry, I Could..., page 11
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. He is as strong as Paul Bunyan on steroids.
2. I m so tired, the sheep I count are snoring.
3. She has an ocean and a continent of money.
4. He is older than a Neanderthal s great great-grandfather.
Tall Tale, page 12
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. S.T. Smozenstossle was so smart that she reinvented the wheel, and it s better than the original.
2. S.T. Smozenstossle s brain was so big that she had to travel in a semi-truck that could accommodate her large
head.
3. S.T. Smozenstossle was so intelligent that she won Nobel Prizes for physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, liter-
ature, and peace all in the same year.
4. S.T. Smozenstossle was so smart that she invented a car that runs on air.
5. S.T. Smozenstossle was so smart that she double-majored in rocket science and lunar colonization.
Being Kind, page 13
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. Your friend Smart Mouth will need to be visiting his other friends in the future, and not you.
2. We feel that your country s recent actions aren t really in your best interest, or in the best interest of other
nations.
3. We request your presence at the county detention center, where I m afraid your son is residing temporarily. I will
need for you to come in and discuss the possibility of him taking up residence in your home again.
4. Unfortunately, sweetie, I m afraid little Poppie won t be needing his cage anymore.
Coating It with Honey, page 14
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. I don t like you, so let s not hang out anymore.
2. Asparagus makes me puke.
3. You re fired.
4. Those new shoes are nice, but they make your feet look huge.
5. Perhaps you should consider replacing the use of your car with bus or subway transportation, as a public safety
measure.
6. Of all the unique meals you have made, I d have to say that this doesn t rank among my favorites.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
27
Answer Key, continued
Make a Connection, page 15
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. Joe is as stubborn as a kite caught in a wild updraft.
2. She is as tired as a daisy that spent the entire day stretching toward the sun.
3. My father is as strong as a skyscraper in the wind.
4. Melinda is as sad as cold coffee.
5. His words are as gentle as a bubble floating on a breeze.
6. The countertop was as clean as just-fallen snow.
7. Jackson was as busy as a puppy with unlimited shoes to chew.
Romantic Fred, page 16
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
Dearest Natasha,
You are as pretty as a sparkling dewdrop on a daisy. Your hair is as black and shiny as exotic silk. Your eyes are as
green as a mountain meadow. Your lips are like fresh-picked strawberries a bright, beautiful red.
Your voice is as sweet as a violin playing the loveliest song in the world, and your smile lights up a room like a mil-
lion candles.
I love you, Natasha. I will be as happy as a lottery winner if you agree to marry me.
Love,
Fred
A Wild Goose Chase Has No Geese, page 17
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. Claire had met and shaken hands with the ropes and gotten to know them, so she showed the new student
around.
2. Josh knew the song by listening to his heart sing it.
3. Mr. Gomez looked in the opposite direction with his one eye that was blind, so he wouldn t see the misbehavior
in the back of the room.
4. Little Sara blew up and wound up being a liquid puddle of tears when her big brother ran over her Barbie doll
with his truck.
5.  I guess it won t cause the bank to shatter into a million pieces, said Elena s father when she asked for a new
bike.
6.  This report doesn t even use a blunt object to harshly grate the top layer of Nebraska, said Ms. Yamaguchi.
7. No one wanted to be around Savanna because she cried when someone dropped a hat on the floor.
8. Tony s grandpa said,  I m as fit as a small instrument with four strings that you play with a bow in folk style.
9. When asked if he could fix the printer, Zach said,  It s a slice of sweet dough baked and covered with frosting!
10. When her neighbors asked her if she wanted to babysit every weekend for the entire summer, Lyndsey answered,
 Maybe. But let me lose consciousness for a little while on top of the question before I tell you for sure.
11.  Here. Let me allow you to borrow my hand, said Henry s father, pulling it off his wrist.
12. David stared at his algebra assignment and said,  I can t create a head out of a math assignment, or a tail,
either.
13.  You can talk until your face color changes from normal to blue, said Audrey s mother,  but I m still not mov-
ing your curfew to 2:00 a.m.
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
28
Answer Key, continued
14.  I don t know why the company is moving its feet slowly behind it as it walks on this decision, said Jackson.
15. Brandy has been at the bottom of the landfill for about three weeks now.
Break a Leg, page 18
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
 I got such a kick out of watching our students present High School Musical, said Mrs. Adducci.  Those kids
made the singing look like a piece of cake and the dancing look as easy as pie. And the acting? I thought they would
be in over their heads, but they really pulled it off.
 You re right, said Miss Triblehorn.  The costumes were just to die for, and the scenery was so great it must
have cost an arm and a leg. This show became the hottest ticket in town!
 I really thought the kids were biting off more than they could chew, said Mr. Gutting, the director.  If I d had
my druthers, they would have picked something easier. To make it even worse, some kids were really bent out of
shape because they didn t get the roles they wanted. Then the flu hit, and half the cast was under the weather for
many of the rehearsals. But they kept their nose to the grindstone, and there at the end they were really burning the
midnight oil.
 They were getting on each other s nerves during dress rehearsal, said the musical director, Miss Wegter,  and a
lot of them were rubbing each other the wrong way. I was crossing my fingers that a couple of them didn t tear into
each other.
 But others were certainly getting along well. The leading man lost his head over the leading lady, said Mr.
Gutting.
 Really? I was in the dark about that, said Miss Wegter.
 I guess I let the cat out of the bag. They were quite the item. However, I thought he was going to fall apart at
the seams when he saw her leave with one of the other guys one night. But they were just friends. It turns out she
was head over heels with the leading man, too.
 The two of them really brought the house down when they came out for bows at the end of the show, said
Mrs. Adducci.  It was wonderful!
Opposites Attract, page 19
1. jumbo shrimp 15. bad luck 28. fuzzy wuzzy
2. safety hazard 16. baggy tights 29. good grief
3. healthy tan 17. big baby 30. final exam
4. simple Simon 18. toothbrush holder 31. hokey pokey
5. dozen doughnuts 32. funny guy
19. paper clip
6. accurate estimate 33. tall tree
20. dream date
7. baby grand 34. simple request
21. black light
8. act naturally 35. beautiful sunset
22. hair dryer
9. advanced beginner 36. least favorite
23. ripe watermelon
10. interesting comment 37. liquid smoke
24. clearly confused
11. tall oak 38. loud whisper
25. dull roar
12. authentic replica 39. advanced algebra
26. firm pillow
13. frozen corn 40. lively discussion
27. fresh frozen
14. awfully nice
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
29
Answer Key, continued
Serious Fun, page 20
Alissa asked if she could go to a weekend concert and be one of the paid volunteers taking tickets. Her father gave
her a definite maybe and said he would check with her mom.
Alissa s mother was a student teacher who rode the elevated subway into work each day. She wouldn t be home
until late, so Alissa knew she wouldn t be able to get her answer right away.
Her dad gave her a hug, put on his dress pants, and left. He was a seriously funny man who also played in a
one-man band every other Friday night. (He was hoping his band would become a full-time hobby.)
Alissa s parents had one adult child, her brother Aaron. Though he lived at home, he was training for a
lightweight heavyweight boxing match, so he was a sight unseen around the house most of the time. They also had
Alissa and her little sister Jasmine. Since no one else was around, Alissa had to cook for the two of them.
 Do you want boneless ribs or jumbo shrimp for dinner? she asked.
 Shrimp, said Jasmine.
The two of them ate alone together in a loud silence.  This is awful good, said Jasmine, trying to be nice.
Then they had slices of a fresh frozen vanilla fudge twelve-ounce pound cake with genuine imitation chocolate
bits in the frosting. She cut them in approximately equal slices.
 That cake is pretty ugly, said Jasmine,  but it sure is good.
Finally they heard their mother s key in the lock. Her mother entered, then her older brother, then her father. A
small crowd then stood in the tiny kitchen.
Alissa decided to eat her cake before her brother grabbed it. She would ask about the concert later.
Create a Pun, page 21
Answers will vary. Sample answer:
1. A man nervously paced the bus terminal looking for his wife. A fellow traveler asked the man if everything
was okay.  No, he answered,  Our bus to New York City leaves in five minutes, and I m worried I won t find
my darling Clem in time.
5. Susan felt like an outsider while the other kids flipped through yearbooks and exchanged snapshots from the
end-of-the-year school bash. She put on a happy face and reminded herself,  Someday my prints will come.
What s So Punny?, page 22
1. N 6. J 11. C 16. S
2. B 7. G 12. F 17. K
3. A 8. O 13. I 18. T
4. Q 9. M 14. R 19. D
5. H 10. P 15. E 20. L
Metaphors and More © 2007 Cottonwood Press, Inc. " www.cottonwoodpress.com " 1-800-864-4297
30
Great Books from Cottonwood Press!
IF THEY RE LAUGHING
A TO Z Novel ideas for reading
THEY JUST MIGHT BE LIS-
teachers. Written by two reading
TENING Ideas for using
teachers with years of experience in
HUMOR effectively in the
the classroom, the activities in A to
classroom even if you re NOT
Z can be used with any novel or
funny yourself. Discover ways to
short story.
lighten up, encourage humor
from others, and have fun with
your students.
A SENTENCE A DAY Short, play-
PHUNNY STUPH Your stu-
ful proofreading exercises to help
dents will smile and sharpen
students avoid tripping up when
their proofreading skills as they
they write. This book focuses on
correct the jokes and urban leg-
short, playful, interesting sentences
ends. The activities contain just
with a sense of humor.
about every error you can imag-
ine, from spelling and punctua-
W
R
I
T
E
DOWNWRITE FUNNY Using
tion mistakes to sentence frag-
student s love of the ridiculous to
ments and run-ons.
build serious writing skills. The
entertaining activities and illustra-
RELUCTANT DISCIPLINAR-
tions in this book help teach all
IAN Advice on classroom man-
kinds of useful writing skills.
agement from a softy who
became (eventually) a successful
teacher. Author Gary Rubinstein
offers clear and specific advice for
HOT FUDGE MONDAY Tasty
classroom management.
Ways to Teach Parts of Speech to
Students Who Have a Hard
THINKING IN THREES The
Time Swallowing Anything To
Power of Three in Writing.
Do With Grammar. This new edi-
Faced with a writing task of any
tion includes quirky quizzes,
kind? Think of three things to say
extended writing activities, and
about the topic. Writing an essay?
Internet enrichment activities that
Remember that the body should
reinforce new skills.
have at least three paragraphs.
Need help getting started? Learn
HOW TO HANDLE DIFFI-
three ways to begin an essay.
CULT PARENTS A teacher s
survival guide. Suzanne Capek
TWISTING ARMS Teaching
Tingley identifies characteristics
students how to write to per-
of some parent  types . She then
suade. This book is full of easy-to-
goes on to give practical, easy-to-
use activities that will really
implement methods of working
sharpen students writing and orga-
with them more effectively.
nizational skills.
www.cottonwoodpress.com
Metaphors booklet cover.qxp 1/8/2008 11:05 AM Page 1