Code Breaker Slides 101010IDIO-MCODE001FILE77101010IDIO-MCODE001 CODE101010001IDIO-M77FILECODE101010001IDIO-M IDIO-MCODE001FILE77101010IDIO-MCODE001FILE 101010IDIO-MCODE001FILE77101010IDIO-MCODE00177
Top Secret Training
Code Breakers
Lesson 1: Literal vs. Figurative Meanings
Level 01: Basics
Wait... what?
"Teacher, can you please break the ice?"
Does the teacher need a hammer? 🔨
Is there actual ice in the classroom? 🧊
No! It's a secret code!
Two Ways to Speak
Literal
The words mean exactly what they say. Like a photo.
"The dog is under the table."
→ The dog is physically under the wood.
Figurative
The words have a hidden meaning. Like a secret code.
"I'm under the weather."
→ I feel sick. (There is no actual weather on me!)
Training: Crack the Code!
Practice
"Piece of Cake"
Literal: A slice of dessert.
Figurative: Very easy!
"In the Same Boat"
Literal: Two people on a ship.
Figurative: Having the same problem.
"Cold Feet"
Literal: Your feet are freezing.
Figurative: Nervous or scared.
Your First Mission
Open your Code Breaker Journal. You will draw the literal meaning and the figurative meaning for 3 secret idioms.
MISSION STATUS: ACTIVE
Code Breaker Journal Worksheet Code Breaker Journal
Unit: Idiomatic Expressions | File: 01-Literal-vs-Figurative
AGENT NAME: _________________
DATE: _________________
Mission Briefing
Idioms are secret codes! To "crack" them, we need to understand what they look like Literally (exactly what the words say) and what they mean Figuratively (the hidden message).
1
Idiom: "Raining Cats and Dogs"
Literal: What it sounds like
Figurative: What it actually means
The hidden code means: _________________________________________________________________
2
Idiom: "To have butter-fingers"
Literal: What it sounds like
Figurative: What it actually means
The hidden code means: _________________________________________________________________
3
Idiom: "Time Flies"
Literal: What it sounds like
Figurative: What it actually means
The hidden code means: _________________________________________________________________
Secret Agent Reflection:
Why do you think people use idioms instead of just saying what they mean?
Literal vs Figurative Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 1: Literal vs. Figurative Meanings
Mission Protocol
Learning Objective
Students will be able to distinguish between the literal meaning of a phrase and its figurative (idiomatic) meaning by creating visual representations of both.
Supplies
Code Breaker Slides
Journal Worksheets
A hammer (prop)
Ice/Ice pack (prop)
The Hook: The Amelia Bedelia Moment
Action: Enter the classroom with a prop (hammer and an ice pack or container of ice).
Script: "Okay class, before we start, I need to 'break the ice.'"
Demo: Physically strike the ice with the hammer. Wait for the confused looks.
Discussion: Ask, "Why are you looking at me like that? I said I was breaking the ice! Is that not what I'm doing?" Lead students to explain that the phrase usually means "to start a conversation" or "get to know people."
Instructional Steps
1
Use the Code Breaker Slides to define Literal and Figurative. Contrast a photo (literal) vs. a secret code (figurative).
2
Model one idiom together on the board (e.g., "Piece of Cake"). Draw a literal slice of cake on the left and someone doing a very easy task (like 1+1=2) on the right.
3
Distribute the Code Breaker Journal Worksheet. Have students work in pairs to draw and explain the three target idioms.
ESL Scaffolding Tips
Visuals: Use the drawings on the worksheet as the primary assessment, as language production may be limited.
Sentence Starters: Provide frames for the "hidden code" section:"This idiom means ______________." "People say this when they ______________."
L1 Connection: Ask if students have similar "codes" in their home languages.
Emotion Code Slides HAPPYSADIDIO-MCODE002FEEL77BLUECODE002 CODECLOUD99FEEL77FILEBLUEHAPPY002IDIO-M
Top Secret Training
Feeling Blue?
Lesson 2: Idioms for Emotions and Feelings
Level 02: Emotions
Emoji Code Match
☁️9️⃣
"On Cloud Nine"
🦋肚子
"Butterflies in your stomach"
🌡️🍳
"Hot-headed"
What is the feeling?
Extremely Happy?
Nervous?
Easily Angry?
The Emotion Decoders
"Feeling Blue"
To feel very sad or depressed. Not actually the color blue!
Ex: "I'm feeling blue because it's raining."
"Over the Moon"
To be extremely happy or excited about something.
Ex: "I'm over the moon about the field trip!"
"Blow your Top"
To lose your temper or get very angry suddenly.
Ex: "Don't blow your top, it was just an accident!"
"Shake like a Leaf"
To be very scared, nervous, or cold.
Ex: "He was shaking like a leaf during the test."
Mission: Silent Signal
Emotion Charades
One agent will act out the literal version or the figurative feeling. The team must guess the Idiom Code!
Action
Guess Code
Emotion Code Cards Feeling Blue
Feeling very sad.
Code Card 01
Cloud Nine
Extremely happy.
Code Card 02
Hot-headed
Easily angry.
Code Card 03
Butterflies
Feeling nervous.
Code Card 04
Over the Moon
Very excited!
Code Card 05
Top Secret
Create your own!
Blank Card
Emotion Code Story Worksheet Emotion Code Story
Mission File: 02-Emotional-Idioms
Agent: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Instructions:
Write a short story about a day when you felt many emotions. Use at least THREE idioms from today's lesson.
Available Emotion Codes:
Cloud Nine
Feeling Blue
Butterflies in Stomach
Over the Moon
Blow your Top
Shake like a Leaf
Once upon a time...
Draw one moment from your story:
Visual Evidence Box
School Success Slides BOOKHITCOLORPASS003CLASS77CAPCODE003 CODEBRAINQUIZFLY77FILEHITBOOK003IDIO-M
Top Secret Training
School Success
Lesson 3: Idioms for School and Success
Level 03: Academic Codes
The Teacher Talk Quiz 🍎
"Class, put your thinking caps on!"
A) Wear a literal hat in class.
B) Start thinking very hard.
C) Go to the principal's office.
Common Classroom Codes
Hit the Books
Meaning: To begin studying or doing homework with a lot of effort.
"I have a big test tomorrow, so I need to hit the books tonight!"
Flying Colors
Meaning: To pass something (like a test) with a very high score or easily.
"She studied so hard that she passed the quiz with flying colors!"
Teacher's Pet
Meaning: A student who is favored by the teacher or works very hard to please them.
"Leo always helps clean up; he's definitely the teacher's pet!"
A Piece of Cake
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.
"That math worksheet was a piece of cake. I finished in 5 minutes!"
Workshop Phase
Crack the Conversation
Work with your partner to fill in the missing School Idioms in the dialogue worksheet. Read them out loud to sound like a pro!
Partners
Speaking
School Dialogue Worksheet Dialogue Crackers
Topic: School & Success Idioms
AGENT 1: ____________________
AGENT 2: ____________________
The Scenario:
Two students, Alex and Sam, are talking after their big science test. Fill in the blanks with the correct School Idiom from the word bank.
Word Bank:
• Piece of cake
• Hit the books
• Thinking cap
• Flying colors
• Teacher's pet
• Break the ice
ALEX
Hey Sam! How did you do on the science test today? I studied for five hours last night. I really had to ________________________.
SAM
It was great! I finished early. Honestly, for me, it was a ________________________. I knew all the answers!
ALEX
Wow, lucky you. I bet you passed with ________________________. I struggled on the last question about gravity.
SAM
I had to put my ________________________ on for that one, but then I remembered what Mr. Henderson said in class yesterday.
ALEX
Oh, look! Here comes Leo. He already got his grade back. He got 100%!
SAM
Of course he did. He always sits in the front row and helps the teacher. He’s such a ________________________!
Pro Agent Challenge:
Practice reading this dialogue with your partner. Try to use emotion in your voice! Who is happy? Who is a bit jealous?
School Dialogue Answer Key Answer Key: Dialogue Crackers
Teacher Resource | Lesson 3
Dialogue Solutions:
Alex: "...I really had to hit the books."
Sam: "...for me, it was a piece of cake."
Alex: "...I bet you passed with flying colors."
Sam: "...I had to put my thinking cap on..."
Sam: "...He’s such a teacher's pet!"
Speaking Tips:
Encourage students to emphasize the idiom when they say it.
Alex should sound a bit tired or worried.
Sam should sound confident and relaxed.
Ensure students understand that "Teacher's Pet" can sometimes be used in a slightly negative or teasing way.
Context Clue Slides SPYLISTENSECRETCODE004LISTEN77SPYCODE004 CODESPIESTALKFLY77FILEHITBOOK004IDIO-M
Top Secret Training
The Eavesdropper
Lesson 4: Context Clues in Conversation
Level 04: Listening Intelligence
Incoming Transmission...
CLASSIFIED
"I'm sorry I missed the meeting. I've been under the weather all week."
Detective Work:
1. Did they say they were sick or healthy?
2. What clue did you use to know?
"I missed the meeting" is your clue!
Detective Tools: Context Clues
The Sentence
Look at the words right before or after the idiom.
Tone of Voice
Is the speaker happy, angry, or sad? Use their feeling as a clue.
The Situation
Where are they? Are they at school? A party? A hospital? Use the place.
Mission: Listen Closely
Agent Eavesdrop
Your teacher will play (or read) Secret Conversations. Your job is to identify the Idiom Code and use Context Clues to guess the meaning!
Listen
Investigate
Context Clue Log Worksheet Intelligence Log
Topic: Context Clue Detection
Detective Name:
_________________
Mission: Agent Eavesdrop
Listen to the secret conversations. For each one, identify the idiom, the clues you heard, and your best guess for what it means.
Transmission #01
The Idiom:
Context Clues (What did you hear?):
My Best Guess for Meaning:
Transmission #02
The Idiom:
Context Clues (What did you hear?):
My Best Guess for Meaning:
Transmission #03
The Idiom:
Context Clues (What did you hear?):
My Best Guess for Meaning:
Detective's Summary:
Which context clue was the most helpful to you today? (Words, Tone, or Situation?)
Context Clue Scripts Pack The Script Pack
Lesson 4: Secret Conversation Scripts
Classified Info
1
Transmission #01: The Messy Room
Mom: "Wow, Leo. This room is a total disaster! There are clothes everywhere and I can't even see the floor."
Leo: "I'm sorry, Mom. I'll clean up my act right now. I'll put everything away and make my bed."
Idiom: Clean up your act | Meaning: To improve your behavior or start doing things correctly.
2
Transmission #02: The Best Friends
Maya: "Are you going to tell Sarah about the surprise party on Friday?"
Ben: "No way! Shhh! Be careful not to let the cat out of the bag. She's standing right over there!"
Idiom: Let the cat out of the bag | Meaning: To reveal a secret by accident.
3
Transmission #03: The Big Game
Coach: "Alright team, we are down by 10 points. We have five minutes left. We need to focus and play our best!"
Player: "Come on guys! Let's get the ball rolling! We can still win this!"
Idiom: Get the ball rolling | Meaning: To start an activity or process.
Teacher's Note:
Read these scripts aloud with appropriate dramatic flair (whispering for secrets, yelling for the coach). Pause after the idiom to let students write in their logs.
Idiom Improv Slides SHOWTIMEIDIO-MCODE005IMPROV77SPINCODE005 CODEGAMESHOWFLY77FILEHITBOOK005IDIO-M
Master Agent Training
Idiom Improv
Lesson 5: Natural Conversation Finale
Level 05: Master Fluency
The Mission Rules
1
Get a Scenario: A situation where you are talking to someone.
2
Spin the Idiom: You must use your assigned idiom naturally.
3
Don't Force It: It shouldn't sound like a robot! Make it part of the story.
SPIN TO WIN
Ready to speak like a native?
Pro Example
Scenario:
You're late for a birthday party.
Required Idiom:
"In the same boat"
"Oh no! I'm so sorry I'm late. The traffic was terrible!"
"Don't worry about it! I just got here too because of the traffic. We're in the same boat!"
Master of Codes
You have unlocked the secrets of English Idioms!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: 100% FLUENT
Improv Challenge Cards Level: Beginner
Scenario: The Rain
You wanted to play soccer outside, but it starts pouring water everywhere.
Required Idiom:
Raining cats and dogs
Level: Intermediate
Scenario: The Lost Dog
Your friend found their lost puppy after three days of searching.
Required Idiom:
Over the moon
Level: Expert
Scenario: The Secret Gift
You almost told your brother about the birthday gift your parents bought him.
Required Idiom:
Let the cat out of the bag
Level: Master
Scenario: The Stage Fright
You have to sing a song in front of the whole school, and you are terrified.
Required Idiom:
Shake like a leaf
Idiom Mastery Reflection Worksheet Mission Debrief
Unit Final Reflection: Idiom Mastery
Agent ID:
_________________
Self-Assessment
I can explain the difference between literal and figurative.
I can identify idioms in a conversation.
I can use idioms to express my feelings.
My Favorite Code:
Why do you like this idiom?
Draw the Figurative meaning of your favorite idiom
The Next Mission:
How will you use idioms when you talk to your friends or family at home?
End of Unit Assessment | ESL Speaking Intermediate | Agent Signature: ____________________
