Activity Overview
Personification is when a writer gives human characteristics or actions to something nonhuman, and it is very common in poetry. As students read Brown Girl Dreaming, they will come across several examples of this type of figurative language. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate at least three examples of personification. Teachers may ask the kids to illustrate the phrase literally, as it’s intended in the text, or both. The example for this activity shows the literal interpretation of each example of personification. Teachers may also want to give the students a list of examples, or have them do a “scavenger hunt” either as they read, or as an activity after reading.
Examples of Personification in Brown Girl Dreaming
- Page 22: There was only a roaring in the air around her.
- Page 28: In return, they hold onto their color, even as the snow begins to fall.
- Page 32: A front porch swing thirsty for oil.
- Page 64: The South doesn’t agree with my brother.
- Page 78: It’s Friday night and the weekend ahead is already calling us.
- Page 123: Where the light is almost blue, the white winter sun painting it.
- Page 143: This place is a Greyhound bus humming through the night.
- Page 169: I want to catch words one day.
- Page 222: So I go back to writing down words that are songs, and stories, and whole new worlds, tucking themselves into my memory.
- Page 267: We board the bus when the sun is just kissing the sky.
- Page 289: Two peas in a pod, you were.
- Page 319: Love can wrap itself around you.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective:Create a 3 cell spider map, illustrating and describing three examples of personification in the text.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write the example and page number in the description box. In addition, write what the author is intending to say, or the literal meaning.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Activity Overview
Personification is when a writer gives human characteristics or actions to something nonhuman, and it is very common in poetry. As students read Brown Girl Dreaming, they will come across several examples of this type of figurative language. For this activity, students will identify and illustrate at least three examples of personification. Teachers may ask the kids to illustrate the phrase literally, as it’s intended in the text, or both. The example for this activity shows the literal interpretation of each example of personification. Teachers may also want to give the students a list of examples, or have them do a “scavenger hunt” either as they read, or as an activity after reading.
Examples of Personification in Brown Girl Dreaming
- Page 22: There was only a roaring in the air around her.
- Page 28: In return, they hold onto their color, even as the snow begins to fall.
- Page 32: A front porch swing thirsty for oil.
- Page 64: The South doesn’t agree with my brother.
- Page 78: It’s Friday night and the weekend ahead is already calling us.
- Page 123: Where the light is almost blue, the white winter sun painting it.
- Page 143: This place is a Greyhound bus humming through the night.
- Page 169: I want to catch words one day.
- Page 222: So I go back to writing down words that are songs, and stories, and whole new worlds, tucking themselves into my memory.
- Page 267: We board the bus when the sun is just kissing the sky.
- Page 289: Two peas in a pod, you were.
- Page 319: Love can wrap itself around you.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective:Create a 3 cell spider map, illustrating and describing three examples of personification in the text.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Write the example and page number in the description box. In addition, write what the author is intending to say, or the literal meaning.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, and items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
How Tos about Personification in Brown Girl Dreaming
How can I teach students to write their own personification examples?
Guide students to create original sentences by choosing an object and brainstorming ways it might act or feel like a person. This helps students internalize personification by practicing it themselves.
Model brainstorming personification as a class.
Think aloud as you pick a classroom object (like a pencil) and describe what it might do or feel if it were human. For example: "The pencil danced across the page." This provides a clear example for students to follow.
Encourage students to pair-share their ideas.
Have students turn to a partner and share their best personification sentence. Listening and giving feedback helps spark creativity and builds confidence.
Facilitate a quick class share-out.
Invite a few students to read their sentences aloud. Celebrate creative examples and discuss what makes them personification.
Connect writing to illustrations.
Ask students to draw a quick sketch of their sentence, showing the object acting like a person. This visual step deepens understanding and makes learning memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Personification in Brown Girl Dreaming
What is personification in Brown Girl Dreaming?
Personification in Brown Girl Dreaming is when the author, Jacqueline Woodson, gives human qualities to nonhuman things, like describing the sun as "kissing the sky" or a bus "humming through the night." This figurative language helps readers connect emotionally with the story.
How can I teach personification using Brown Girl Dreaming?
To teach personification with Brown Girl Dreaming, have students find examples in the text, discuss their meanings, and illustrate them. You can assign a scavenger hunt or use a spider map activity to help students identify and explain the figurative language.
What are three examples of personification from Brown Girl Dreaming?
Three examples of personification from the book are: the weekend "calling us" (p.78), a porch swing "thirsty for oil" (p.32), and the sun "kissing the sky" (p.267). Each gives life-like actions to objects or ideas.
Why is personification important in teaching poetry to grades 4-6?
Personification helps students in grades 4-6 better understand poetry by making abstract ideas more relatable and engaging. It encourages creative thinking and deeper interpretation of texts.
What is a simple classroom activity for illustrating personification?
A simple activity is to have students pick three personification examples from the text, write their literal and figurative meanings, and create illustrations for each. This reinforces understanding through both explanation and art.
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