My class has been learning about poetry and ways language can be used to paint a picture in the reader’s head. One of the ways we have been doing this is by writing similes.

I introduced similes for the first time with a short discussion on their prior knowledge about similes (they had none) and then read the book The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle. I have honestly never had so much laughing in my grade as when the kids read this book today. They identified the similes in the book quickly and started coming up with their own.

Students then used the free app Switch Zoo to create their own Mixed-Up animal in the style of the Chameleon from the book. The Switch Zoo app lets users start with an animal, then change its head, tail and legs to the head, tail or legs of another animal. The results are hilarious (read: hideous)! Students wrote similes about their mixed-up animal by picking an adjective to describe their animal (e.g. fluffy) then choosing something else that could be described using that same adjective (e.g. pillow) to create their simile (e.g. My Rhicrocog is as fluffy as a pillow.) The app allows you to add a name and profile for the animal and display it as you might see on a sign at the zoo.

Here are some of our Mixed-Up Animals… enjoy!

Image source – Mixed-Up Chameleon http://verybestforkids.com/book-review-mixed-chameleon-eric-carle-ages-2-8/

Image source – Switch Zoo http://iphone.ranking-apps.com/reviews/629236482/Switch+Zoo