Picture to story

This activity is used mainly to provide writing practice. It is also a good way to practice questions. This activity focuses on student's creativity. Here are the steps you have to follow when dealing with this activity.

• Prepare a set of pictures that you think will stimulate the interest and imagination of your students.

• Show it to the students and have them work in groups to prepare different questions about the photo. Here are some example questions the students may ask.

Who is the man? How old is the man? Where does he live?

Who is he talking to? What is he talking about? What is he saying?

How does he feel? Why is he looking worried? What will happen to him?

• You have to monitor the students and help them with the formation of questions, mainly at the beginning of the activity.
• When you think the students have produced enough questions ask students to ask you the questions orally.
• When you receive a question ask another group to answer.
• When they answer (using their imaginations) write their answers on the board.
• When you have finished working with the questions, tell the student to work in pairs and tell a story to each other based on the answers given. If they want to change any details tell them that this is fine.
• Change pairs a couple of times.
• The last time they change couples ask them to write the story they have told together.
• Monitor and offer advice and help if necessary.
• Stick the finished stories on the walls and encourage students to read each others and comment.

Extension
Give a different picture to each couple of students. Students have to write a story based on the picture and after that their story will be recorded. After all pairs of students have done this you will have the images displayed on the walls and you will play the recording to the students who will have to match the story heard to a picture hanging on the wall.