Spark Conversations with Picture Sets

Purpose:  Comparing pictures is an engaging and interesting activity that helps learners to practice using academic language and provide evidence for their answers.

Preparation Time:  5 minutes

Materials Needed:  set of 2-4 pictures

Beginning Procedure for One-to One Instruction:

1. Collect a set of 2-4 pictures. The pictures can follow a theme (food, homes, workplaces, outdoor scenes, etc.) and can be similar or very different.
2. Arrange the pictures so that they can all be seen at the same time, and number them to make them easier to identify.
3. Begin by having the learner describe what they see in each picture. Encourage them to be descriptive, noting both vocabulary and details.
4. Prompt the learner to talk about the pictures using one of the suggestions below. Encourage the learner to use sentence frames to practice academic language and sharing evidence for their observations. For beginning level learners, encourage simple sentences.

Same/Different

Question prompts:

What is the same between the pictures? What is different?

Sample sentence frames:

The pictures are the same because they both/all have _______.

The pictures are the same because neither/none  have ______.

There is/are ______ in both/all of the pictures.

Both/All of the pictures remind me of _____, because _____.

The pictures are similar because ____.

The pictures are different because ____.

I see a _____ in both/all of the pictures.

Like/Dislike (Pro/Con)

Question Prompts:

What do you like about the pictures? What do you dislike about the pictures?

What do you appreciate about the pictures? What don’t you appreciate about the pictures?

What are the pros of the pictures? What are the cons of the pictures?

Sample sentence frames:

I like that both/all of the pictures have _____, because _____.

I don’t like that both/all of the pictures have ____, because ______.

I see ______ in both/all of the pictures, and I like this because ______.

I see _____ in both/all of the pictures, and I don’t like this because ______.

I appreciate that both/all of the pictures remind me of ______.

I like that both of the pictures make me want to ______.

I don’t appreciate that both/all of the pictures ______.

Which One Doesn’t Belong? (for 3-4 pictures)

Question prompts:

Which picture is different from the other pictures? Why?

Which picture doesn’t belong? Why not?

Sample sentence frames:

Picture number ___ doesn’t belong because ____.

Picture number ____ is different because _____.

Picture ______ doesn’t have ______.

Would you rather?

Question prompts:

Which picture would you rather ____ (e.g. eat, hang in your home, visit, etc.)? Why?

Sample sentence frames:

I would rather ____ picture ___ because _____.

I prefer ____ picture ____ because _____.

Modification for a Group: For a group of learners, have learners take turns making observations about the pictures. To make it more interactive, have learners repeat the observation of the learner who spoke previously, before adding their own observation.

Expansion: After the learner/s have talked about the pictures, have them write a few sentences comparing the pictures. Remind them to use the sentence frames provided.

This activity addresses CCRS Speaking and Listening Anchor 1: Students can effectively participate in a range of conversations and build on one another’s ideas.

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