Symbolism can be a difficult concept for students to grasp! In this article, we'll explore teaching elementary students to identify and interpret symbolism in texts. As a literacy specialist, I've found that exposing students to symbolism sooner rather than later, is the key to them mastering this reading strategy. Plus, I've created a printable Symbolism Lesson Plan that readers can preview and use in their classroom. 

Teaching Symbolism in the Elementary Grades

One of the benefits of being a literacy specialist is that I am able to work with several different grade levels. This gives me the opportunity to see how students progress over the years. It also enables to me to see what they have mastered and what they still struggle with when it comes time to graduate from elementary school. One concept I've noticed students struggle with in the upper elementary grade levels is symbolism. 

In fact, a few years ago, I noticed many of my 5th grade students really struggled with the concept of symbolism. I realize that the notion of having an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning is difficult to grasp, so I did not expect complete understanding, but I knew they were capable of more than what I was seeing. When this happens, I reflect on my teaching of the concept and the lesson plans, activities, and instructional strategies I used.

When I stopped and reviewed how I taught symbolism to my students, I asked myself:

• Did I explicitly teach the concept well enough?

• Did I provide enough modeling?

• Did I scaffold properly?

• Did I make sure my materials supported the concept well enough?

• Did I provide my students enough practice with the concept? 

Upon reflection, I came to the conclusion that my students simply needed additional practice and time with the concept of symbolism. I realized that while working across grade levels as the literacy specialists, the curriculum in grades 3 and 4 only gave students a little exposure to symbolism prior to 5th grade. 

As my 5th grade students continued practicing symbolism, I decided the teachers I worked with as literacy specialist should be teaching symbolism over the course of a few years to help students increase their understanding of the concept. I started by weaving the concept of symbolism into several of our book read alouds in 3rd and 4th grade. It worked! After working on symbolism as a whole group in 3rd and 4th grade (when appropriate), my 5th graders were able to bring symbolism into their small group discussions without waiting for me to interject.

In short, start teaching symbolism sooner than later!

Printable Symbolism Lesson Plan

I crafted my four-day Symbolism Lesson Plan to help students in grades 3+ learn or review the concept of symbolism using multiple texts. The Symbolism Lesson Plan includes the following texts:

• The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco

• This is the Rope: A Story From the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson

• Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland

• Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

• Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

• The Lorax by Dr. Suess

I took a few of my favorite symbolic picture books and crafted this lesson plan using the Gradual Release of Responsibility instructional model: I do (the teacher provides explicit instruction and/or modeling), We do (the teacher and the students practice together), and You do (the students independently practice the skill).

Although I prefer to use this lesson over a period of four days, you can break it up and do one book a week for four weeks if you choose. Additionally, I would like to note that for the independent text student activities, I have my students use This is the Rope: A Story From the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson.

MORE READING STRATEGY LESSON PLANS