Picture Composition: 40 to Fit Any Level

How To Crack Picture Reading At Any Level

EnglishGeni’s picture composition category is dedicated to using pictures or photographs to promote English fluency with a particular emphasis on critical thinking toward building English vocabulary and strengthening one’s grasp on English grammar.

Each picture based lesson comes with about 7 engaging, bright images. With a staggered approach, we strengthen you with smaller activities first and then lead you up to speaking or writing a top-notch essay on any picture composition task at school and beyond.

This pillar post on picture composition serves as the directory for EnglishGeni’s posts for both young kids at A1-A2 level as well as B1-B2 level of intermediate speakers of English while also providing convenient navigation to all of the 40 picture composition with answers provided for tasks.

What is Picture Composition

Picture Composition is a language proficiency measurement method where a learner is provided with an image that has to be described in detail. As the word ‘composition’ implies, one is expected to ‘compose‘ in writing or spoken form on the image, taking into account all the elements present in the image.

Picture composition continues to be a popular way to gauge English proficiency. The ambiguity or clarity in images chosen for picture description tasks are, therefore, deliberate. This is a part of the design to test one’s aptitude for proper English expression.

Children are provided with pictures that evoke curiosity, interest, details of color, numbers that trigger counting, objects, emotions, fruits, vegetables, toys, friends and more. In short, everything that tugs at the heart of a child can feature in the picture. That connect is what pushes a child or an adult to want to ‘express‘ or ‘compose‘ on an image as part of picture composition in English!

If you’re looking for ideal pictures for picture composition, your search ends here. Each lesson has upto 7 unique images, multiple exercises per image, (over 20 varies exercies per most lessons!), and easily double as picture composition worksheets with answers as well. Click here to go straight to the 6 Lesson Links.

Do all Language Learning Activities Involve Critical Thinking?

No, not all activities of language learning need to be about critical thinking. Simple recounting of things, events, and ideas is also an effective way to learn English. A higher function of language learning, however, involves critical thinking in the target language. This can be particularly effective in developing English vocabulary and grammar.

Critical Thinking in ESL \ EFL

Firstly, ESL stands for English as Second Language. Alternatively, it may also be referred to as EFL, English as a foreign language.

Critical thinking means to think and reflect deeply upon something. This is a higher order thinking because it forces you to leave behind your own ideas or knowledge about something, and form a fresh set of ideas based on a given situation, scenario or set of constraints.

Hence, it would call upon an objective analysis upon an issue at hand, and come up with a summary statement of analysis. In a sense, critical thinking in an ESL setting forces a learner to express definitive thoughts about something.

Let’s take a moment to chuckle that critical thinking really has nothing to do with “criticizing” or being “critical” of anything!

How Does Picture Composition Improve English

Picture reading, picture composition or picture description tasks all involve the same techniques to promote English skills. It leads a learner through a set of steps as detailed below:

• An image is presented to learners.
• Learners are required to observe the image or picture carefully.
• Most learners do not pay enough attention to all the details in a picture. Take time to observe thoroughly.
• An initial set of questions about the image simply build or check your understanding.
• The next task is to force an analysis of the image.
• This analysis lays bare what is obvious, what is known, what cannot be determined from the image.
• This deep analysis promotes English vocabulary and grammar usage.
• Kids naturally gravitate towards bright pictures. This gives an impetus to their creative thinking.
• Their natural imagination becomes sharper with regular practice.
• Kids begin to view the picture composition exercises akin to a game and start to enjoy demonstrating their language skills!
• Depending on the age, language level of learners, several challenges to promote thinking can be included in these picture description tasks.

Picture Composition for All Levels: 40 Images

Each image has multiple picture composition exercises no matter what the level. This ensures that even those learners who are struggling at school can feel motivated and encouraged by their success at the less challenging tasks for that grade. Also, the picture composition with answers are a help to parents as well.

Remember, EnglishGeni aims to skill you to be top notch for your class but it’s okay to take time to get there. Here are the different levels we present at. Click on the links to check the level that’s right for you.

Links to All Picture Composition Lessons

These lessons feature mostly 7 individual images, and each is a picture composition with answers in English. The lessons are comprehensive and give the learner multiple off-beat, fun and rigorous practice while still being engaging and interactive.

If you are looking for materials for adults to practice based on images, it’s an entirely different approach at EnglishGeni where we buttress your vocabulary and challenge you with more intense speaking exercises. Check out the pillar page post here to know more.

Here’s a deeper look at what to expect in each of the lessons on picture composition with answers for young kids and school children. Here’s a guide for parents to understand how to approach our picture composition for kids’ materials optimally so your child speaks better English and picks up faster!

Parental Guide: Picture Composition for Kids

When doing picture description with young kids, start with the basic questions. Always focus on what’s in the image.

How to Write Picture Composition

Whether oral or written, how you write a picture composition follows the same format. Here are the things that must be a part of the composition task.

• What is the image about?
• Where is this image taken or what is the situation?
• How many people are in the image?
• What objects are in the image?
• Is there anything about the colors in the image to talk about?
• Are there any activities being done?
• What are the less obvious details in the picture?
• Are there any similarities within the image?
• Does the image remind the learner of his own experiences that are related to the image?

Encourage the learners to express thoughts on the image covering some or all of these aspects. Now that you know how to write picture composition, take note that the these composition tasks at EnglishGeni are designed at two levels:

• A1-A2 Level: For beginners or basic speakers of English.
• B1-B2 Level: For intermediate or comfortable speakers of English.

B1-B2 level of speakers could click here and jump straight to the instructions for Intermediate level.[anchor link here]

A1-A2 Level: Picture Composition For Young Kids

When you start a picture composition, make sure that the young child is aware of these sentence patterns.

How to Express the Theme of the Image

You can speak about the central idea or the main theme of the image with a sentence like this:

Examples:

Here are some simple ways to introduce the main idea in the picture:

• In this picture, I can see………………
• Here, we can observe……………
• We can see from this picture that…………………….

How to Express About the Contents in the Image

We always mention the number first and then the object’s name(s). This is nearly a constant with all pictures for picture composition from class 1 to class 4.

• There is a man.
• There are (number)+(objects/people) in this image.

Examples:

Observe these simple examples:

• There is a sofa in the image.
• A little boy and girl can be seen in this picture.
• There are 5 girls in this photograph.
• There are 4 toys in the basket.
• There are so many people in the street.

How to Talk About Colours of Objects.

We always say the color first and then the object.

Examples:

Here are some examples to perfect the simple rule:

• Red bird
• Blue shirt
• White building
• Yellow banana.

How to Talk About Things You Cannot be Sure Of

When you do not have enough information in the pictures for picture composition, you can take a guess. You say it this way:

• I think ……………..
• Maybe, this is………….

Examples:

Here are a few examples to observe and learn:

• I think the family is going to a wedding.
• I think the child is sad.
• I think this picture is taken in a park.
• I think the man is the father.
• Maybe, this is at a wedding.
• Maybe, this is during summer.
• Maybe, this is during a festival.
• Maybe, the child is hungry.

How to Talk About Similar Things

When you notice something that is similar, you can use “and” to talk about them, or use “both”.

Examples:

How about you check out these examples with your child:

• There is a red car and a red bus on the road.
• There is a little girl and a little boy.
• There are two big trees in the picture.
• Both the car and bus are red.
• Both the kids are little.
• Both the trees are big.

How to Point Out Differences

When the learner has to point out a difference regarding objects or over segmented pictures for picture composition, try making a sentence with “but”.

Examples:

Take a look at these examples and learn how to make the sentences:

• The boys are jumping but the parents are sitting.
• The trees are big but the birds are small.

Now, let’s get started with the first image.

Review of Picture Composition for Different Classes

At EngiishGeni, you will find a clear distinction between the level of English skill and complexity of elements in the pictures for picture composition for different classes. Here’s a look at how one image would be used for image composition at different levels.

Note though that EnglishGeni DOES NOT use the same images or materials at different levels. We keep them unique each time.

Here is a demonstration for parents and teachers using EnglishGeni resources for picture composition. We use the same image for class 1, class 2, and class 4 to give you an idea.

A task begins with a picture like this with a caption. Example, see the image below: “A Vegetable Garden at Home” Let’s leverage this image for 1st graders.

Level 1: Picture Composition for Class 1

Perhaps, they have a simple exercise as below.
Exercise 1: True or False Quiz
Read each statement and determine if it is true or false based on the text.

Level 2: Picture Composition for Class 2

The exercise is slightly harder with an FIB form possibly! Leaners fill in the blanks with the appropriate words to fit the image. This is how all lessons are designed as picture composition worksheets with answers contained right next or under them.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Level 4: Picture Composition for Class 4

Step 1: Outline Picture Composition exercise

A learner may be asked to produce a 10 line write up in under 100 words at a 4th graders level of English about the theme in the image.

Step 2: Provide Hints

We provide hints on the topic beyond the image to ease the task

Topic: “A Home Vegetable Garden”
Helpful Hints:

• A kid has a vegetable garden at home.
• He/She talks about how wonderful it is to have creatures around.
• (caterpillars, butterflies, bees, snails, ladybugs in the garden)
• The creatures live among the logs and mushrooms and trees in his yard.

These are all the elements of an image for a picture description task for class 4 level, let’s say.

Step 3: Provide a Sample Essay

Since all kids may not be able to produce an essay write-up individually, we pre-coach them with guided practice.

Sample Essay on Picture Composition for Class 4:

Total Words: 85 words
Speaking time: under 1 minute

“In my garden at home, I have lots of veggies growing. It’s super cool because I have lots of little friends living there too! There are caterpillars crawling on the leaves, turning into beautiful butterflies. Bees buzz around the flowers, making yummy honey. Snails slide around on the ground, and ladybugs crawl on the plants, keeping away bad bugs. Underneath the logs and near the mushrooms, there are even more tiny creatures hiding. It’s like a big party of nature in my yard, and I love watching it all happen!”

The level of English scales up as the grades go up to picture composition for class 5 and class 6! Try one and acquaint yourself with more!

FAQs on Picture Composition

Conclusion

Now that you know the rules and benefits of practicing picture composition in English, make haste to try out your first task and try to finish them all. Watch out to mark your improvement with each task you finish.

Feel free to post your written work in the comments below or drop a line for us at EnglishGeni! We welcome your feedback! Check out some other master page posts with multiple links in one post! And a couple of letter-writing guides too.

• Fruits Encyclopedia Pillar Page (Links to 8 posts on different Fruit types)
• Master Pillar page for Picture Descriptions (Links to 5 Basic to Intermediate picture-tasks for adults)
• Write a letter to a friend: 11 topics
• Leave Letter with Format and 10 Quick Samples for School or College