Simile Match-Up: Free Printable Game for Year 4

Simile Match Up is a free printable English game for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children join the start of each simile to the ending that finishes it, then say it aloud to hear whether it works. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Children read the start of each simile and draw a line to join it to the ending that finishes it. Some of the similes describe animal qualities, such as brave, quiet, busy and slow, and the sheet suggests starting with those. There are lines for writing too. Children think about meaning and sound, not just matching words. Saying each one aloud helps them hear whether the comparison fits.

What is a simile?

Fun facts about similes

• A simile compares two things using the word as or like.
• The word simile comes from a Latin word that means like.
• A metaphor is different. It says one thing is another thing, without using as or like.
• Writers use similes in stories and poems to help readers picture what they describe.
• You can make up a brand new simile. It does not have to be one that people already know.

Skills and curriculum link

• Understanding similes
• Vocabulary choice
• Imaginative writing
• Reading carefully
• Speaking and listening

Ideas to help your child with similes

• Look for the link wordMost similes use as or like. Ask your child to spot that word first. It shows that a comparison is coming.
• Find the shared qualityTwo things are compared because they share one quality. Ask what the two things have in common before choosing an ending.
• Listen to the soundReading a simile aloud helps children hear if it sounds right. Many children know the right ending by ear before they can explain why.
• Familiar and freshSome similes are used so often that people know them well. Others are new and surprising. Talk about which kind your child likes best and why.

Key words

• SimileA phrase that compares two things using as or like.
• CompareTo look at two things and say how they are alike.
• VividClear and full of life, so the reader can picture it.
• VocabularyAll the words a person knows and uses.
• AdjectiveA word that describes a noun, such as quiet or slow.
• MetaphorA phrase that says one thing is another, without using as or like.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes.
2. Read the first half of each simile aloud and ask your child to guess the ending before they draw the line.
3. Work through the sheet together the first time. Talk about each choice and why it fits.
4. Check against the notes on page 2. Ask, "Why do you think those two belong together?"
5. Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• What does the word like or as tell you when you see it in a sentence?
• Which simile on the sheet made the clearest picture in your head?
• Can you think of a different ending for one of the similes? Does it work as well?
• Why do writers use similes instead of just saying what something is?
• What is a simile you have heard in a story or a poem?
• If you could describe your favourite toy with a simile, what would you say?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in learning

Before this, children meet describing words and learn to choose adjectives that tell the reader more. They also hear comparisons in stories, rhymes and poems, even if they do not yet know the name for them.

After this, children can use similes in their own writing, then move on to other ways of making description lively. Over time they begin to meet metaphor and choose figurative language with more care in Key Stage 2 and beyond.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Simile Match Up for?

It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can try it with an adult reading aloud, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2.

What will children practise?

Children practise understanding and using similes to make writing more vivid. They also build their choice of vocabulary, as set out in the Year 3 and 4 writing programme of study in the National Curriculum for England.

How do I use it?

Read the first half of each simile and ask your child to guess the ending before they draw the line. Work through it together the first time, then check against the notes on page 2.

What if it feels too hard?

Start with the animal ones: brave, quiet, busy and slow. Say each simile out loud to hear if it sounds right. Come back to the harder ones later, and talk about what each pair has in common.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a later revisit, and black and white printing works well on plain A4 paper.

Can teachers use it in class?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.

Is this a screen free activity?

Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It also gets children talking, thinking and writing by hand.