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Proverbs & Adages: Wise Old Sayings

Fifth graders explore proverbs and adages — short, wise sayings passed down over time, like “actions speak louder than words” — and learn to explain the life lessons they teach.

Grade 5Figurative Language50 minutes1 class periodReading WorkshopExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain a proverb or adage.
  • ✓Find its real meaning.
  • ✓Connect it to life.
  • ✓Recognize common sayings.
Essential Question

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” It’s not really about chickens! These wise old sayings teach big lessons in just a few words — what do they mean?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Proverb

Project this and match each proverb to the wise lesson it teaches — tap a proverb, then tap what it means.

🦉 Match each proverb to its meaningTry it
Proverb
What It Teaches
Tap a proverb, then tap its meaning!
The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Connect — Not About Chickens

5 min

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” — what’s it really about?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say a proverb.
  • Ask what it really means.
  • Set the goal: proverbs.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Hear the proverb.
  • Guess the lesson.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Teach — Wise Sayings

12 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Define proverb and adage.
  • Show the literal vs. real meaning.
  • Connect to life.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn proverb.
  • See both meanings.
  • Connect it.
3

Active Engagement — Match Together

13 min

Class uses Match the Proverb.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Match each pair.
  • Explain the lesson.
  • Give a real example.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match them.
  • Explain them.
  • Give an example.
4

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students explain proverbs.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain proverbs’ meanings.
  • Connect them to life.
  • Write about one.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain them.
  • Connect them.
  • Write one.
5

Share — Share

5 min

Students share a proverb.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Invite a proverb.
  • Say what it teaches.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Share one.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

CCSS
L.5.5b

Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.

CCSS
L.5.5

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language and word relationships.

CCSS
L.5.6

Acquire and use general academic words and phrases.

CCSS
RL.5.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative language.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Proverb + meaning cards.
  • Sentence frame: “This proverb teaches ___.”
  • Illustrate the lesson.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with common proverbs.
  • Use picture support.
  • Match one pair at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Compare proverbs across cultures.
  • Write a story showing a proverb.
  • Create your own adage.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🗂️Proverb cards
  • 💻Match the Proverb
  • 🖍️Pencils
  • 📚A book of sayings
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

proverba short, wise sayingadagean old, well-known sayingsayinga common phraselessonsomething a saying teachesfigurativea meaning beyond the wordsliteralthe exact word meaningwisdomgood judgment and knowledgemeaningwhat something teaches
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a proverb?
A short, wise saying that teaches a life lesson.
QUESTION 2
What does “Actions speak louder than words” mean?
What you DO matters more than what you say.
QUESTION 3
Why is “don’t judge a book by its cover” not really about books?
It’s figurative — it means don’t judge people or things by how they look on the outside.

Growing at home? Family sayings.

Have families share proverbs they grew up with and talk about the lessons they teach. A printable proverbs sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Proverbs & AdagesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Proverbs & AdagesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Proverbs & AdagesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: adage, figurative, lesson, literal, meaning, proverb, saying, wisdom
  1. the exact word meaning
  2. a short, wise saying
  3. a meaning beyond the words
  4. what something teaches
  5. good judgment and knowledge
  6. something a saying teaches
  7. a common phrase
  8. an old, well-known saying

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a proverb?
  2. What does “Actions speak louder than words” mean?
  3. Why is “don’t judge a book by its cover” not really about books?
Answer key — Part A: 1) literal · 2) proverb · 3) figurative · 4) meaning · 5) wisdom · 6) lesson · 7) saying · 8) adage
Part B: 1) A short, wise saying that teaches a life lesson. 2) What you DO matters more than what you say. 3) It’s figurative — it means don’t judge people or things by how they look on the outside.