The purposes of this study were to explore metaphor development in young, verbally talented learners and to assess the effects of instruction on related tasks. A quasi-experimental design was used, with a sample of 70 second graders in the treatment group and 21 in the comparison group. Treatment classes engaged in a literature-based intervention focused on metaphor structure. Both groups were assessed before and after the intervention period on two metaphor instruments, with student products and teacher assessments collected from treatment classes. Data sources also included classroom observations and scores on the Test of Cognitive Skills (TCS). Findings around metaphor development supported previous research, demonstrating that verbally talented second graders are developmentally capable of some metaphor tasks. Some products exceeded age expectations, supporting predictions that gifted students would surpass age peers. Small positive significant relationships (p<_.05 were="were" found="found" between="between" tcs="tcs" scores="scores" and="and" study="study" instrument="instrument" scores.="scores." findings="findings" around="around" treatment="treatment" effect="effect" limited.="limited." on="on" one="one" the="the" group="group" outperformed="outperformed" comparison="comparison" but="but" without="without" showing="showing" growth.="growth." other="other" showed="showed" growth="growth" not="not" attributable="attributable" to="to" intervention.="intervention." class-level="class-level" comparisons="comparisons" indicated="indicated" possible="possible" differences="differences" in="in" performance="performance" related="related" degree="degree" of="of" implementation="implementation" teacher="teacher" assessments="assessments" demonstrated="demonstrated" a="a" significant="significant" relationship="relationship" p.001="p.001" student="student" instrument.="instrument." supported="supported" extended="extended" previous="previous" research="research" metaphor="metaphor" development="development" with="with" results="results" meeting="meeting" exceeding="exceeding" age="age" expectations.="expectations." intervention="intervention" weaker="weaker" limitations="limitations" sample="sample" size="size" instrumentation="instrumentation" suggest="suggest" need="need" for="for" further="further" investigation.="investigation." products="products" responses="responses" potential="potential" appropriateness="appropriateness" is="is" necessary="necessary" determine="determine" effectiveness.="effectiveness." catherine="catherine" little="little">