A picture’s worth a 1000 words
photo by Arpan Banerjee
Every picture tells a story — and this simple warmer gets your students telling theirs. It’s a great way to spark creativity, build vocabulary on the fly, and get even shy students talking, since there’s no “wrong” answer when you’re just imagining. Works well with all levels, from young learners to adults.
How it works:
- Pick an unusual photo. Something a little strange or unexpected works best — Unsplash is a great free source. Show it to the class (or hand out different photos to each pair or small group).
- Set a timer. Give students 3–5 minutes to invent a short story to go with the picture. They can work alone, in pairs, or in small groups.
- Share the stories. Each student or group tells their story to the class.
- Vote for the best one. As a class, vote on the story you enjoyed most — bonus points for the most creative or the funniest.
I love using this as a warmer because it takes the pressure off — there’s no right answer, just imagination. It’s a fun way to loosen students up before moving into the main lesson, and it often surprises me how creative even quieter students get once there’s a picture to react to.
Want more activities like this? Book a trial lesson with me and let’s make learning English feel like play.