Three Picture Stories

Purpose:  to support learners in developing their speaking skills, while developing inferring and sharing evidence skills.

Preparation Time:  15 minutes

Materials Needed:  sets of three pictures (one of people, and two of objects, places, or activities)

Procedure:

1. Put learners into groups of 3-4. Give each group a copy of the set of three pictures.
2. Ask the learners to look at the picture of people. Have them talk with the people in their group about what they see. Ask questions such as, “Who are the people in the picture? How are they related? What evidence do you see for this in the picture?” Remind the class that there are no right answers; the purpose is to practice their speaking skills and be able to justify their responses.
3. Have the learners look at the second picture in the set. The picture can be an object, an activity, or a location. Tell the learners that what they see in the second picture is something that is important to the people in the first picture. Have the learners talk to the people in their group about why they think the subject of the picture is important, and remind them that they need to explain their reasoning.
4. Have the learners look at the second picture in the set. The picture can be an object, an activity, or a location. Tell the learners that what they see in the second picture is something that the people in the first picture don’t like at all. Have the learners talk to the people in their group about why they think the subject of the picture isn’t popular, and remind them that they need to explain their reasoning.
5. Have the groups take turns explaining their stories to the whole class.

Modification: If you have a large class, put the learners into new small groups of 3-4. Have the learners take turns telling their original group’s story to their new group.

This activity addresses College and Career Readiness Standard Reading Anchor 1, Level C; Anchor 3, Level A; Speaking and Listening Anchor Level A, B, & C.