aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	English as second
What age group	Year or Grade 8
What topic	Describing pictures
Quantity	1
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Lesson Introduction: Describing Pictures

Hook: The Mystery of the Picture

Objective:

Engage students in the art of observation and descriptive language by examining a mysterious image.

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Introduction to the Lesson

"What Do You See?"

Begin the lesson with an intriguing approach to capture the students' attention. Display a captivating (and slightly obscure) picture on the projector or smartboard. It could be an artistic image, a busy street scene, or an abstract painting. Allow the students to take a few moments to observe it silently.

Discussion Starter

Once the students have had time to look intently at the image, ask the following questions to initiate a discussion:

• "What stands out to you in this picture?"
• "What emotions does this image evoke?"
• "If you could choose three words to describe this picture, what would they be?"

Guiding Observation

Encourage students to think deeply by guiding their observation. Use phrases like:

• "Look at the colors. How do they make you feel?"
• "What objects or people do you notice? What might they be doing?"
• "Imagine if this scene could tell a story. What would it be about?"

Transition to Descriptive Language

After a few minutes of discussion, summarize the students' observations on the board to illustrate how different perspectives can enhance understanding. Introduce the lesson's main focus: Describing pictures. Explain that today, they will learn how to express their observations clearly and vividly using descriptive language.

Activity:

• Following this introduction, students will choose an image from a selection of picture prompts and practice describing it in detail, aiming to use rich vocabulary and engaging phrases.

Wrap-Up

Conclude the introduction by highlighting the importance of being observant and articulate – skills that they will develop throughout the lesson. Tell them that their goal today is to paint a picture with words!

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By starting with a mysterious image and engaging students in thought-provoking questions, you create an immersive environment that fosters creativity and encourages thoughtful responses as they learn to describe pictures effectively.