Describe the Picture: Real or Imagined?
A picture description game with a twist. One student sees either a real photo or a single sentence like "A taxi driver reading a book". They have one minute to describe the picture, real or invented, in as much detail as they can. Then the class asks questions and decides: was the picture real, or did they make it all up?
How it works
- Put a laptop at the front of the room, turned so only the describer can see the screen. Open the game and press Start.
- The describer gets a real photo or a sentence to imagine, plus 30 seconds to get ready. Press Start talking to skip the wait.
- The describer talks for one minute. The picture hides itself when time is up, so you can turn the laptop round.
- The class asks questions to check the details, then votes: real or imagined? Press Show the answer, then Next picture for the next describer.
About one picture in three is imaginary, so the class can never be sure.
Ideas for using it
- Present continuous. The natural tense for describing a scene: "A man is sitting on a bench. He's reading a newspaper."
- There is / there are and prepositions. "There's a dog next to him. Behind them there are some trees."
- Detective questions. The class must ask at least three questions before voting: "What colour is his coat?" "Is anyone else in the picture?" Vague answers are a clue that the picture is imagined.
- Teams. Teams take turns to describe. A team scores a point for each wrong guess from the other teams, so a convincing imaginary picture is worth the most.
- Speculating. Higher levels add their guesses about the story behind the picture: "She might be waiting for someone." "He must be a tourist."
- Draw it. While the describer talks, everyone else sketches the picture. Compare the drawings with the photo at the end.
- Online lessons. Keep the game on your own screen and describe the picture yourself. Your student asks questions and guesses. Then swap: send them the link and let them describe.
Useful language
- Where things are: In the middle... · In the background... · On the left / right... · In the top corner... · Next to... · Behind...
- What's happening: He's... -ing · They seem to be... · It looks like...
- Guessing: She might be... · He must be... · It could be... · I'd say it's...
- Deciding: I think it's real because... · That sounds made up. · You hesitated! · There was too much detail to be imagined.
Tip: put the "where things are" phrases on the board first. Lower levels describe much more when they have a way to organise the picture.
Tips
- Keep a straight face. Remind describers that a real photo is easier to describe, so imaginary ones need extra confidence and detail.
- Need more time? When the minute is up, Let me keep talking gives the describer 30 more seconds for extra questions.
- Skip a picture. The arrow button (or the right arrow key) gives the describer a different picture.
- Keyboard. Space moves the game on to the next step, and F switches to full screen.
More speaking activities
Try What Happens Next? for predictions, Story Cards for storytelling, or Reveal the Picture for guessing what a hidden picture shows. For more ideas, browse our exercises and activities and lesson plans.