The last week of the August Classroom, we will focus on idioms, just because. Well, in truth, this classroom is inspired by National Just Because Day.

Many of your students will have heard an adult say, “Just because your friends do something, doesn’t mean you have to do it, too.” Usually, they use it when describing a situation they deem unsafe or not age-appropriate.

However, many idioms exist. The definition of an idiom according to Webster’s Dictionary is:

id-i-om(id’ēom) n. A form of expression having a meaning that is not readily understood from the

meaning of its component words; the dialect of people or a region; a kind of language or vocabulary.

Every language has them. When someone is learning a new language, idioms can be challenging to understand. When taken literally, idioms can be funny. People who grow up hearing them all their lives know the meanings without thinking much about them. However, as soon as someone from outside their region or learning their language hears it, they realize that not everyone will understand.

See some of the examples below, and you’ll quickly get an idea.

I’m all ears. – While this idiom means that someone is listening, what would you think if you’d never heard this phrase before?

He has a chip on his shoulder. – This idiom refers to holding a grudge or being bitter about something.

Break a leg – It means good luck, especially in the theater world.

You can say that again. – We say this idiom when we agree with what someone has said. The person doesn’t usually repeat themselves.

Break the ice or ice breaker – These phrases describe ways we might try to ease into an uncomfortable situation.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Just because we like having fun in the classroom, we have a couple of fun ways to explore idioms this week. Check them out!

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THIS WEEK’S PROJECTS

Discuss – After reviewing a few examples with your students, are any of these familiar to them? Now that they know what idioms are, ask your students to share a few that they use or have heard.

Draw – Make a list of the idioms. Have the students pick out one idiom that is unfamiliar to them. Have them draw the idiom. It can be drawn either in the idiom’s literal form or its understood meaning.

Charades – Another fun way to learn about idioms in the classroom is to act them out. It’s similar to charades. Divide the class into teams. Write the idioms on strips of paper and place them in a jar or basket. Students from each side take turns drawing idioms to act out to the other team. Set a timer, and when time is up if the opposing team hasn’t guessed the idiom, the actor’s team has a chance to guess. Whichever team guesses, gets the point. Of course, if no one guesses correctly, no points are awarded.

Visit idiomsite.com for a catalog of idioms to review. Are the idioms you and your students discussed listed there?