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will explain the meaning of idioms (phrases that have a different meaning from the actual words used). I will read page 1 from the book In a Pickle and Other Funny Idioms by Marvin Terban aloud. I will explain that the book tells us what idioms mean and where they came from. I will give students the “Idioms and their Meanings” page (see Direct Teaching Example Chart, provided below in Teacher and Student Materials) and read aloud all the idioms and their meanings. I will read about where these idioms came from In a Pickle and Other Funny Idioms p. 5, 7, 19, 23, 25, 27, 31, 53, 55, 63). I will then read the short story “The Great Escape” (provided in Books and Passages) aloud. I will model using idioms to describe the plot of the story. For example, I can retell the plot of the story by saying Sarah is in a pickle. Sarah hears it straight from the horse’s mouth, her Uncle Bill, to be careful and make sure she closes the guinea pig pen. It must have gone in one ear and out the other. While Sarah is feeding the guinea pigs, the fish bowl falls over and she runs to clean it up. She soon realizes that the guinea pigs have escaped because she forgot to close the pen. I guess there’s no use in crying over spilled milk. I will predict what may happen next in the story. I predict that Sarah will find all the guinea pigs before her uncle returns.

TIP: Chart and discuss the idiom examples during Direct Teaching. This will provide students with visual support that they can to refer back to during the Guided Practice and Independent Practice.

Ask: How did I use idioms to explain a story? Students should respond that you first learned the meaning of various idioms. Then you read a story. Then you retold the story using idioms by thinking about their meaning and how they can describe the story.

will use the idioms from the “Idioms and their Meanings” page to make our prediction of what will happen next in the story. For example, Sarah may have butterflies in her stomach as she thinks of a way to tell her Uncle Bill that the guinea pigs have escaped. Maybe right before her uncle gets back to the shop, she finds all the guinea pigs and puts them back in the pen. Then she will feel like she is sitting on top of the world.

will read the passage “Casey Saves the Play” (Student Independent Practice is provided below). You will describe the plot and predict what will happen next using at least three idioms.

TIP: This lesson focuses on ten specific idioms. Encourage students to think about and discuss other idioms they have read or heard. Have students use these idioms to complete the Independent Practice. Add these idioms to a class list and keep the list posted in the classroom.