Your students may not know it yet but they’re already practically experts in the art of hyperbole. These resources will help them better understand how the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech can be an interesting way to express themselves as a writer.
We use hyperbole in our conversations every day. Some more than others. The characters in this SNL skit take hyperbole to a whole new level as they explain why they “literally can’t even.” This is a fun way to introduce the concept of exaggerated statements. Please note that there is one moment that might not be classroom appropriate depending on your comfort levels. We recommend you watch the video all the way through before sharing it.
This fun music video can be used as an alternative to the SNL skit or to re-enforce the concept in a different way. It provides examples of hyperbole in different kinds of writing, contextualizing it so that students understand how writers use it to entertain and persuade their audience.
Invite your students to practice spotting hyperbolic statements in action with this Ed Puzzle quiz. Although they’ll only be prompted to identify whether something is a hyperbole or not, ask them to also think about what effect these statements have in the context they are presented in.
This hilarious short film explores how we use hyperbole on social media and proves why you should be careful what you type online. You might end up with a whole new mom! After watching, challenge your students to a short story or screenplay about what would happen if an internet hyperbole that they use frequently became a literal event.
Eboni has extensive experience in curriculum development, with a focus on culturally-responsive and arts-based approaches. Having spent years creating academic content and providing professional development to teachers, she now curates themed playlists meant to provide educators with valuable, time-saving resources.
6-8.RH.4 Determine The Meaning Of Words And Phrases As They Are Used In A Text, Including Vocabulary Specific To Domains Related To History/Social Studies.
6-8.RH.6 Identify Aspects Of A Text That Reveal An Author’s Point Of View Or Purpose (E.G., Loaded Language, Inclusion Or Avoidance Of Particular Facts).
6.L.5 Demonstrate Understanding Of Figurative Language, Word Relationships, And Nuances In Word Meanings.
7.L.5 Demonstrate Understanding Of Figurative Language, Word Relationships, And Nuances In Word Meanings.
8.L.5 Demonstrate Understanding Of Figurative Language, Word Relationships, And Nuances In Word Meanings.
