Describe Things
Lesson Plan- Describing Things
Sometimes you may be asked to describe something, what it looks like, and it’s function or purpose. For example, you may to talking to a person not up on the latest technological devises or telling someone about the newest time saving kitchen gadget.
When you are describing objects you use adjectives, (words that describe nouns) such as the size, color, shape, material made from, thickness, texture, etc. Look at the expressions below that can be used when asking for descriptions of things.
English Expressions- Describing Things
Expression: What does it look like?
Response: It’s big, with eight hairy arms.
Expression: How big is it?
Response: It’s 3 feet, by 4 feet, by 5 feet.
Expression: How much does it weigh?
Response: It weighs 75 pounds.
Expression: What color is it?
Response: It’s bright yellow, brighter than a banana.
Expression: What’s it made out of?
Response: It’s made of plastic and aluminum.
Expression: What is it?
Response: It’s a garlic press.
Expression: What does it do?
Response: It puts a sharp point on wooden pencils.
Expression: What the purpose of a refrigerator?
Response: The purpose of a refrigerator is to keep food cold so it does not spoil.
Expression: What do you use a (… cheese grater) for?
Response: A cheese grater is used to make small strips of cheese from a larger block.
Expression: How does a (… water heater) work?
Response: Water is collected in a large tank and heated by either gas or electricity.
Dialogue- Describing Things
Randall: Do you know what a grandfather clock is?
Horace: Yes, of course.
Randall: I assume it is a kind of clock, but what does it look like?
Horace: Well, they’re usually big, about an average person’s height, and
maybe 20 to 24 inches wide.
Randall: And.
Horace: The clock face is at the top, usually a round face, and many have
Roman Numerals.
Randall: Go on.
Horace: Below the face is a pendulum which hangs from a chain, or
something similar, which swings back and forth as the clock ticks.
Randall: I’m sorry, what’s a pendulum?
Horace: A weight hanging from a chain, cable, or string.
Randall: I see.
Horace: In all the grandfather clocks I have ever seen, the cabinets were
made out of wood, usually stained brown.
Randall: Why are they called grandfather clocks?
Horace: I don’t know. Maybe because they are an old style of clock that
was common in our grandfathers’ days.
Randall: The clock in your father’s office is a grandfather clock, isn’t it?
Horace: Yes, but he calls it his grandmother’s clock.
Randall: Why?
Horace: Because his grandmother gave it to him.
Conversation Activities- Describing Things
1. Pair work- discussion
Do you or your family have a grandfather clock or any other antique items
that has been handed down from one generation to the next? Tell your
partner about it using some of the ideas for discussion below. Your partner
should ask questions to get more information.
what is it
its age and its history
why it is significant or important to your family
who in your family will the item be handed down to next
why that person will get the item
2. Pair work- discussion
Work with a partner and describe the following items are and how they work.
The listening partner should ask questions to get more detail or
clarification.
Obviously most (if not all) people already know what these things are and
how they work, but the purpose of the exercise is to practice using the
language. So… the partner asking about the items should pretend to be
very, very stupid or from a very remote, uncivilized location that has
never been exposed to these modern conveniences.
Pencil sharpener Bicycle
Toaster Clock
Calculator Camera
Stethoscope Bow and arrow
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