Picture Flash

Purpose: Visuals cues provide an interesting and challenging way to review vocabulary, as well as testing students’ powers of observation. This activity works well in one-to-one situations as well as in a group.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes.

Materials: If the group is large, you’ll need a projector so that everyone can see and participate. Choose pictures from magazines, or the Internet, that relate to the lesson topic. You’ll also need a blank sheet of paper to cover the picture.

Preparation: Select several photos related to your topic. Make sure all the students in a class can see the area where you are projecting the picture. If working with an individual student, sit at a table to facilitate showing the picture.

Procedure:

1. Explain that you will show the picture very briefly. Model this.
2. Ask the students to talk about what they saw after you cover up the picture. For example, you might flash a picture of a room. Encourage students to shout out what room it is.
3. Flash the picture again and see what else students can add. What’s in the room? Are there people in the room? What are they doing?
4. Flash the picture until students can’t add any more details.
5. Repeat with other pictures if desired.

Note: If you’re using a projector, don’t turn it on and off during this activity. That will quickly ruin the bulb. Cover and uncover the picture using a piece of paper.