Figurative Language & Symbolism in Kendrick Lamar's Performance

Lesson · Grades 8–11 · Slides · $3

I built this after the halftime show because my students would not stop talking about it. It treats the performance as a text: lyrics, staging, color, and movement all carry meaning.

Students review metaphor, simile, symbolism, and repetition with lyric examples, watch the performance, and answer guided questions about symbols, staging, color, and the emotions it is going for. We discuss the color red and the marching formation, then students annotate with a figurative language key.

What's included

• Google Slides lesson: agenda, figurative language review with lyric examples, performance slides, discussion slide
• Guided questions handout (Google Doc)
• Annotation assignment with a figurative language key
• Answer key for the guided questions

How teachers use it

• Figurative language or symbolism unit with a pop culture text
• Pairs with the halftime show transcript for close reading
• Preview the performance first for your campus

Topics: sel, social, emotional, slides, powerpoint, presentation, middle, school, high, grade, 8, 9, 10, 11