Similes are often a young reader’s first real introduction to figurative language, the idea that words can paint a picture by comparing one thing to something else entirely. This worksheet uses an original poem built around several clear similes to give third graders focused, enjoyable practice with exactly that skill.
Grade 3 Poetry Worksheet
For More grade 3 worksheets, Visit Grade 3 Reading Comprehension Worksheets.
Why Poetry Belongs in Grade 3 Reading Practice
Third grade reading standards specifically call for students to identify and understand similes, comparisons using the words “like” or “as.” A poem is one of the most natural places to practice this, since figurative language is woven into nearly every line rather than appearing occasionally, the way it might in a longer story.
This worksheet gives students several similes to work with across a single, cohesive poem about an old oak tree, so they can practice recognizing the pattern repeatedly rather than searching for just one example buried in a longer text.
What a Simile Actually Does for a Reader
It’s worth explaining this directly. A simile helps a reader picture something more vividly by comparing it to something familiar. Saying a tree trunk is “rough” tells you very little. Saying it’s “rough like elephant skin” gives you an actual image to picture, gray, thick, and wrinkled, that makes the description come alive. Every simile in this poem works the same way, turning a plain description into something a reader can practically see or feel.
Helping a third grader notice this effect, not just identify the comparison itself, deepens their understanding of why writers use figurative language in the first place.
What’s Inside This Worksheet
This worksheet features an original poem, “The Old Oak Tree,” describing a tree through the seasons using several similes: branches like arms, a trunk like elephant skin, falling leaves like tiny kites, and squirrels dashing up bark like stairs. The poem closes with a reflective final stanza about the tree outlasting the speaker’s own childhood.
The worksheet includes:
- Multiple Choice. Questions checking understanding of specific comparisons and details in the poem.
- True or False. Quick statements reinforcing careful reading.
- Fill in the Blank. Vocabulary practice using words pulled directly from the poem.
- Think and Explain. A question asking students to find two similes in the poem and explain what each one helps the reader picture or understand.
That final question is the heart of the worksheet. It moves beyond simply spotting a simile and asks students to explain the effect it has, which is exactly the deeper understanding Grade 3 figurative language standards are aiming for.
How to Use This Worksheet
Read the poem aloud together, and pause after each simile to ask “what picture does that give you?” This kind of pause turns simile-spotting into an active, visual exercise rather than a dry vocabulary drill. If you have access to a real tree nearby, comparing its actual bark, branches, or leaves to the poem’s descriptions can make the figurative language even more concrete.
This worksheet fits naturally into a home reading routine, a classroom poetry or figurative language unit, or a homeschool lesson introducing similes. It also pairs well with our other Grade 3 worksheets, “The Science Fair Surprise,” “The Mystery of the Missing Trophy,” and “Why Do Leaves Change Color in Fall,” rounding out a full mix of fiction, drama, nonfiction, and now poetry at this grade level.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of It
Read the poem twice: once for enjoyment, and once specifically hunting for the word “like,” since that’s the clearest signal a simile is present. Ask your child to come up with their own simile for something they see outside, using the poem’s similes as a model. And give the final written question real time, since explaining what a simile helps you picture is more demanding than simply identifying it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this worksheet a poem or a story?
It’s a poem, focused specifically on similes and figurative language, different from the fiction, drama, and nonfiction used in our other Grade 3 worksheets.
How long does this worksheet take to complete?
Most third graders finish in about 20 to 25 minutes, including the simile explanation question.
Is an answer key included?
Yes, as a separate PDF, so you can print just the worksheet for your child and keep the key handy for grading.
Download the Worksheet
The printable poetry worksheet and its separate answer key are ready to download. It’s a simile-focused addition to your Grade 3 reading library, giving your child clear, repeated practice with one of the most important figurative language skills at this grade level.
Happy reading.