Sample Workshop

Comparisons: The Simile

In this workshop, we define simile: finding the common ground between two things and comparing them using like or as. Participants begin by looking at a piece of art that has surreal elements. I use a picture of a person with tree branches growing out of his head. I ask participants what the tree branches would be if they were a part of a person. I ask participants to

create a simile based on what we see in the picture. I often use sentence starters to help participants phrase the simile, especially at first. The tree branches are as tangled as _____________________. (his thoughts, my hair in the morning, etc)

Then, We read a poem that is made up of comparisons, and I ask participants to draw one of the similes while they are listening to the poem. They can also make up their own simile and draw it.

After that, We make a group poem using a color or other description word and a part of a person or part of nature in each line.

Ex:

A House is like a Person

The windows are as _______________ as __________________________________.

The windows are as open as eyes.

Next, I hand out objects to each participant. They look at the object and compare it with another object in nature. The begin to write a poem with as many different lines as they can, using a variety of objects that they compare.

The Japanese fan is as floral as a garden. The Japanese fan is as windy as Chicago.

Drawing the Simile:

Here are examples of drawing the simile: