This is such a simple game, and can evoke some very imaginative ideas if you have some motivated students.
Take a flashcard to class. It could have any picture on it, but I prefer something with a scene, not a single object. The last time I took a picture of a blue lake surrounded by mountains and a small yellow fish jumping out of the lake.
Show your SS a half-second glimpse of the picture. Elicit what they saw and let them discuss and debate. Obviously, different SS will end up seeing different things. Flash the picture again, this time for a little longer, perhaps a second. This would give them a lot more to talk about.
In small groups, SS must start writing notes or a short story about the picture flashed at them.
Believe me, SS come up with some hilarious stories. One of my best classes – intermediates, ages 9-11 – came up with a story about the teacher’s (my) pet shark marrying the tiny yellow fish and then eating it up when it was hungry.
With younger, pre-intermediate kids, you could have them draw what they saw while talking about it. They still have to discuss what they saw and the best way to depict it on paper. e.g. The fish was very big. No, it was small. I think it was yellow. I think it was red.
Much as you want to step in and correct errors, the point of this exercise is to develop fluency, so try and restrain yourself, and let the students direct their discussion. As long as they don’t revert to L1, that is.
