ESL WORKSHEET - Describing pictures

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

PICTURE THIS!

LinguaHouse

Jun. 7, 2022

Level: Pre-intermediate (A2-B1)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Describing Pictures and Photos; Describing Places; Photography; Travel and Leisure; Speaking; Useful Vocabulary; Mixed Tenses; 10-12 Years Old; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 06/07/2022

In this lesson, students learn how to formulate short picture descriptions, which also include information about what comes before and after, using photos related to the beach. Students need to talk about photos in work, study, and social contexts and for Cambridge speaking exams. It is assumed that they already have some familiarity with a range of verb forms, including simple, continuous, perfect, and modal verbs. The lesson supports vocabulary development and listening and speaking skills. An optional extension activity features extra compound nouns related to the beach. (by Stephanie Hirschman)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

ONE
This is a picture of me on vacation, but I can’t remember where exactly... I must be in Spain because I’m wearing some sunglasses I bought on that trip. Anyway, I felt worried about my skin, so I was putting on some sunscreen. And, of course, the cream is going to come out of the tube too fast and get all over my new bathing suit! What a disaster!
TWO
Here’s a picture of my daughter at the beach. She’s playing with her new beach ball. She bought it in the town the day before, and she even spent her own money on it. But the ball is about to blow into the sea! We never got the ball back - not a very happy day at the beach!
THREE
These are my grandparents, and in this picture, they’ve just arrived at the beach and unpacked the car. They’re putting up a deck chair, and they’re getting ready to enjoy a lovely day at the seaside, but it looks really windy. Typical British weather!

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/picture-this. Accessed on October 13, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.