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Using popular songs to teach similes By ThoughtCo.com, adapted by Newsela staff on 11.07.17 Word Count 832 Level 940L

Singer and actress Ariana Grande performing at a concert at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2014. Photo by: Scott Roth/AP.

A simile makes a direct comparison between two things. It uses the words "like" or "as." The comparison reveals a new meaning.

For example, the rock group Foreigner wrote a song called "Cold as Ice." The lyrics include a simile:

You're as cold as ice

You're willing to sacrifice our love

In this example, the lyrics are not talking about the weather. Instead, they compare a woman to ice to show her emotions. Many songs can be used to teach about similes.

A simile is in the title of a 1965 song by Bob Dylan, "Like a Rolling Stone." The song is about a woman who used to be rich but is now poor:

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. How does it feel

To be without a home

Like a complete unknown

Like a rolling stone?

The song's title may be the most famous simile in all of pop and rock music.

More songs with the word "like" used as a simile in a title include:

Like a Prayer - Madonna

Man! I Feel Like a

Woman! - Shania Twain

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Like a Hurricane - Neil Young

Elton John wrote a song about Marilyn Monroe called "Candle in the Wind." The song compares a life to a candle throughout the song:

And it seems to me you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Never knowing who to cling to

When the rain set in

The song was re-crafted into a slightly different tune, "Goodbye England's Rose." John performed it at the 1997 funeral of Princess Diana. This was 24 years after the original version. The fact that the lyrics stayed similar shows how a well-crafted simile can last a long time.

A simile is different from another figure of speech called a metaphor. Similes use the words "like" and "as." They make direct comparisons. Metaphors make indirect comparisons.

Both metaphors and similes are very common in music. Here are some songs that have similes.

1. "Believer" By Imagine Dragons

This song compares physical pain to a choking rain of ashes.

The group's lead singer, Dan Reynolds, explained that the song "is about overcoming emotional and physical pain." He had suffered a serious form of arthritis that was very painful.

I was choking in the crowd

Living my brain up in the cloud

Falling like ashes to the ground

2. "Stitches" By Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes explained that in the music video for this song he is getting beaten up by something you can't see. The lyrics use the comparison word "like":

Just like a moth drawn to a flame

Oh, you lured me in, I couldn't sense the pain

The video shows that the beating was all part of his imagination. It's a creative comparison between physical hurt and emotional pain.

3. "Dangerous Woman" By Ariana Grande

This R&B song is about empowerment. Grande explained that it's about how people give men credit for women's success. She does not accept this.

Here is where she uses a simile:

Somethin' 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout you

Grande said she is "much better at making songs than telling people things."

4. "Just Like Fire" By Pink

Pink is known for her in-your-face lyrics. "Just Like Fire" is an empowering song. It is about Pink's own value as a person and as an artist.

Lyrics using the comparison keyword "like":

Just like fire, burning out the way

If I can light the world up for just one day

Watch this madness, colorful charade

No one can be just like me any way

Just like magic, I'll be flying free

I'mma disappear when they come for me

The song also uses the idea of light. It hints at how important it is to Pink to bring light to the world through music.

5. "Ex's & Oh's" By Elle King

This song is about King's past

relationships.

Lyrics that use the comparison work "like" are:

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Exes and the oh, oh, oh's they haunt me

Like ghosts they want me to make 'em all

They won't let go

King started writing the song as a joke. But King's record company, RCA, decided it would be the hit single.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the selection from the introduction [paragraphs 1-10].

And it seems to me you lived your life Like a candle in the wind

Why does the musician compare life with a candle in the wind?

(A) to show how life can change

(B) to show how life has danger

(C) to show how life is beautiful

(D) to show how life can be cut short

2 Read the selection from the section "Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande." Then, fill in the blank.

This R&B song is about empowerment. Grande explained that it's about how people give men credit for women's success. She does not accept this.

The word "empowerment" in the sentence above tells the reader that Grande thinks ____.

(A) women have strength.

(B) people are too mean to women.

(C) men deserve credit.

(D) women are tough.

3 Read the section "Believer By Imagine Dragons."

This song compares physical pain to a choking rain of ashes. The group's lead singer, Dan Reynolds, explained that the song "is about overcoming emotional and physical pain." He had suffered a serious form of arthritis that was very painful. I was choking in the crowd Living my brain up in the cloud Falling like ashes to the ground

How does this section develop the reader's understanding of how a simile works?

(A) It provides background that helps to explain the simile.

(B) It explains why the writer referred to ashes.

(C) It shows why writers use similes in songs.

(D) It gives readers a strong image of pain.

4 Read the introduction [paragraphs 1-10].

What does this section explain that other sections do not?

(A) the writer's emotions

(B) lyrics that include a simile

(C) the purpose of a simile

(D) another literary device

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Hi Everybody,

This is a fun project and you are going to enjoy doing it at home. For this project you need bubble-wrap, paints (watercolor or acrylic), watercolor paper (or light-colored construction paper), water and drawings of trees. I have included some tree drawings in separate files.

First watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQVkZDkgI3A&list=PLauVFvwJVM7w0K85EAfaa4S6qYirRe37X&inde x=17

Follow these steps:

1. Draw a tree and its branches on the paper. You can also trace from the sheets I have provided 2. Add colors in separate plates and add water to make the paints thinner 3. Dip the bubble wrap in a color and dab it on the branches of the tree 4. Use a new bubble-wrap for each color 5. Make at least three

Send me your best two.

The following video takes the same project a step further. You can try this one out too. Send me the picture. I want to see what you have done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWkP207B174&list=PLauVFvwJVM7w0K85EAfaa4S6qYirRe37X&in dex=30

Stay safe

Omer

Dirksen Jr. High E-Learning Physical Education Directions: Select five activities to complete. After completing the activity, record the date next to the completed ​ ​ ​ activity and have a parent or guardian sign your activity log. Then, take a picture of your activity log and submit it on google classroom or share it with your P.E. teacher.

Reminder: The number next to the exercise tells you how many repetitions you do of that exercise. For example, if ​ you choose “20 Jumping Jacks x5”, that means you do 20 jumping jacks, take a 30-second break, and repeat that 5 times total.

Activity Date Completed Parent/Guardian Signature Example: 20 Jumping Jacks x5 Jennifer Lopez signature)

1-minute Wall-sit x4

20 Jumping Jacks x5

10 Push Ups x3

10 Curl Ups x3

10 Navy Seal Squats x3

Jump Rope for 15-minutes outside

10 Burpees x3

10 Shoulder Taps x5

20 Bicycle Crunches x3

10 Alternating Lunges x3

50 Calf Raises x2

20 Pocket Pickers/Sitting Core Twists x5

20 High Knees x3

10 Triceps Dips x3

30 second Plank x4

20 Mountain Climbers x5

1-minute Plank x4

PE / Health Lab

Instructions: Research the question and THEN decide if the statement is TRUE OR FALSE.

______1. The nicotine in a cigarette takes minutes to get into the bloodstream and start its effects.

______2. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

______3. Nicotine stimulates the brain vomit reflex and changes the way it functions, which leads to addiction.

______4. COPD is a disease that is a combination of lung cancer and bronchitis.

______5. Lung cancer currently kills more people than any other form of cancer.

______6. More than 100,000 people die each year from heart and artery disease caused by cigarettes.

______7. Secondhand smoke is another name for sidestream smoke.

______8. Sidestream smoke is the smoke that escapes from the tip of a cigarette.

______9. Chemicals from cigarette smoke pass through the placenta to the fetus.

Your Brain & Nervous System How do you remember the way to your friend's house? Why do your eyes blink without you ever thinking about it? Where do dreams come from? Your brain is in charge of these things and a lot more.

In fact, your brain is the boss of your body. It runs the show and controls just about everything you do, even when you're asleep. Not bad for something that looks like a big gray wrinkly sponge.

Your brain has many different parts that work together. We're going to talk about these five parts, which are key players on the brain team:

1. cerebrum (say: suh-REE-brum) 2. cerebellum (say: sair-uh-BELL-um) 3. brain stem 4. pituitary (say: puh-TOO-uh-ter-ee) gland 5. hypothalamus (say: hy-po-THAL-uh-mus)

The Biggest Part: the Cerebrum

The biggest part of the brain is the cerebrum. The cerebrum is the thinking part of the brain and it controls your voluntary muscles — the ones that move when you want them to. So you need your cerebrum to dance or kick a soccer ball.

You need your cerebrum to solve math problems, figure out a video game, and draw a picture. Your memory lives in the cerebrum — both short-term memory (what you ate for dinner last night) and long-term memory (the name of that roller-coaster you rode on two summers ago). The cerebrum also helps you reason, like when you figure out that you'd better do your homework now because your mom is taking you to a movie later.

The cerebrum has two halves, with one on either side of the head. Scientists think that the right half helps you think about abstract things like music, colors, and shapes. The left half is said to be more analytical, helping you with math, logic, and speech. Scientists do know for sure that the right half of the cerebrum controls the left side of your body, and the left half controls the right side.

The Cerebellum's Balancing Act

Next up is the cerebellum. The cerebellum is at the back of the brain, below the cerebrum. It's a lot smaller than the cerebrum. But it's a very important part of the brain. It controls balance, movement, and coordination (how your muscles work together).

Because of your cerebellum, you can stand upright, keep your balance, and move around. Think about a surfer riding the waves on his board. What does he need most to stay balanced? The best surfboard? The coolest wetsuit? Nope — he needs his cerebellum!

Brain Stem Keeps You Breathing — and More

Another brain part that's small but mighty is the brain stem. The brain stem sits beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck and back. The brain stem is in charge of all the functions your body needs to stay alive, like breathing air, digesting food, and circulating blood.

Part of the brain stem's job is to control your involuntary muscles — the ones that work automatically, without you even thinking about it. There are involuntary muscles in the heart and stomach, and it's the brain stem that tells your heart to pump more blood when you're biking or your stomach to start digesting your lunch. The brain stem also sorts through the millions of messages that the brain and the rest of the body send back and forth. Whew! It's a big job being the brain's secretary!

Pituitary Gland Controls Growth

The pituitary gland is very small — only about the size of a pea! Its job is to produce and release hormones into your body. If your clothes from last year are too small, it's because your pituitary gland released special hormones that made you grow. This gland is a big player in puberty too. This is the time when boys' and girls' ​ ​ bodies go through major changes as they slowly become men and women, all thanks to hormones released by the pituitary gland.

This little gland also plays a role with lots of other hormones, like ones that control the amount of sugars and water in your body.

Hypothalamus Controls Temperature

The hypothalamus is like your brain's inner thermostat (that little box on the wall that controls the heat in your house). The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (about 98.6°F or 37°C). If your body is too hot, the hypothalamus tells it to sweat. If you're too cold, the hypothalamus gets you shivering. Both shivering and sweating are attempts to get your body's temperature back where it needs to be. ​ ​

You Have Some Nerve!

So the brain is boss, but it can't do it alone. It needs some nerves — actually a lot of them. And it needs the spinal cord, which is a long bundle of nerves inside your spinal column, the vertebrae that protect it. It's the spinal cord and nerves — known as the nervous system — that let messages flow back and forth between the brain and body.

If a spiky cactus falls off a shelf headed right for your best friend, your nerves and brain communicate so that you jump up and yell for your friend to get out of the way. If you're really good, maybe you're able to catch the plant before it hits your friend!

The nervous system is made up of millions and millions of neurons (say: NUR-onz), which are microscopic cells. Each neuron has tiny branches coming off it that let it connect to many other neurons.

When you learn things, the messages travel from one neuron to another, over and over. Eventually, the brain starts to create connections (or pathways) between the neurons, so things become easier and you can do them better and better.

Think back to the first time you rode a bike. Your brain had to think about pedaling, staying balanced, steering with the handlebars, watching the road, and maybe even hitting the brakes — all at once. Hard work, right? But eventually, as you got more practice, the neurons sent messages back and forth until a pathway was created in your brain. Now you can ride your bike without thinking about it because the neurons have successfully created a "bike riding" pathway.

Emotion Location

With all the other things it does, is it any surprise that the brain runs your emotions? Maybe you had fun on your birthday and you were really happy. Or your friend is sick and you feel sad. Or your little brother messed up your room, so you're really angry! Where do those feelings come from? Your brain, of course.

Your brain has a little bunch of cells on each side called the amygdala (say: uh-MIG-duh-luh). The word amygdala is Latin for almond, and that's what this area looks like. Scientists believe that the amygdala is responsible for emotion. It's normal to feel all different kinds of emotions, good and bad. Sometimes you might feel a little sad, and other times you might feel scared, or silly, or glad.

Be Good to Your Brain

So what can you do for your brain? Plenty.

● Eat healthy foods. They contain vitamins and minerals that are important for the nervous system. ● Get a lot of playtime (exercise). ● Wear a helmet when you ride your bike or play other sports that require head protection. ● Don't drink alcohol, take drugs, or use tobacco. ● Use your brain by doing challenging activities, such as puzzles, reading, playing music, making art, or anything else that gives your brain a workout!

Nervous System Questions

Directions: Answer each question based on the information from the article.

1. Your______is the boss of your body and controls everything you do.

2. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and ______.

3. The spinal cord helps carry ______back and forth between your body and brain.

4. How many nerves are in your body to send messages to brain and back? a) millions b) billions

5. What kinds of things are your brain and nervous system in charge of? a) walking and running b) thinking and talking c) feeling and sleeping d) breathing and growing e) all of the above

6. How much does the average brain weigh? ______

7. A neuron is another name for a ______cell.

8. Name one part of the brain and one of its functions: ______

9. Both the brain and spinal cord are protected by ______.

10. Name one function of cerebrospinal fluid: ______Name Date MULTIPLYING DECIMALS Part 1: Convert to Fractions — Solve the problems below by converting the factors to fractions. Convert the product back into a decimal. Be sure to show your work. 1. 0.03 x 0.4 2. 0.06 x 2

3. 0.009 x 5 4. 0.3 x 3

5. 0.001 x 25

Part 2: The Standard Algorithm — Solve the problems below using the standard algorithm. Be sure to show your work. 1. 2.5 x 6 2. 2.05 x 6

3. 0.33 x 0.33 4. 5.8 x 9.3

5. 0.58 x 0.93

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Part 3: Explain — Explain in your own words why the standard algorithm works.

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