Teaching English with Picasso: writing activities for the English class

TEACHING ENGLISH with picasso

Writing Activities Based on Picasso Paintings

By JORGE SETTE

Blog: LINGUAGEM: www.jorgesette.wordpress.com

Correlated to the common european framework of

reference

Suggested writing activities based on these Picasso paintings are meant as a guideline for revision of grammar, vocabulary and functions, and also as practice of Process Writing. We indicate the language level based on the

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Picasso, Pablo Interior with a Girl

Drawing 1935

CEFR – A1

•  Describe the painting. Write information on where they are, what is in the room and what they are doing.

•  Write 5 questions about these two women (use a sheet of paper.)

•  Exchange sheets of paper with a colleague. Answer his/her questions in writing.

•  Imagine that one of the women is writing a shopping list. Can you write down the items on the list?

CEFR – b1

•  Write 2 different interpretations for the painting.

•  The woman on the right is writing a note of apology for something her sister (the woman on the left) did. Can you write down the note?

•  Exchange the apology notes with a colleague. Write an answer to his/her note.

•  Alternatively, imagine the girl is drawing, write down a description of what she is drawing. Then read it to your partner, while he/she makes a drawing based on what you are reading. Look at the drawing. Is that what you imagined?

Picasso, Pablo Boy Leading a Horse

1906

CEFR – a1/A2

•  Write down a couple of paragraphs on what you can see in the picture.

•  2014 is the Chinese year of the Horse. Can you write 5 predictions for this year?

•  How are those predictions going to affect us? Write the advantages and disadvantages of each of these predictions.

•  This boy likes horses. Do you? What do you like about them?

CEFR – a2/b1

•  This year (2014) is the Chinese year of the Horse. Last year was the Chinese year of the Snake. Write a short article about the changes you would make if you could live last year over again.

•  Write a blog entry about an exciting experience you had last year.

•  Have you ever ridden a horse? Write a blog entry about a happy memory of your childhood.

Picasso, Pablo. Women Running on the

Beach 1922

Cefr – a1

•  What can you see in the picture? Where are they? Why are they there? How are they feeling? What are they doing? What is the connection between these two women? Write it all down.

•  Do you like running? Write a short article giving advice about keeping fit (using imperatives).

Cefr – a2/b1

•  Write a paragraph about a beautiful beach you have been to. Give us as many details as you can: where it is, what it looks like, what is special about it, what kind of people go there, why you went there.

•  Write a Facebook post telling your friends what you did last weekend. Use a photo if you can.

•  Read someone else’s post. Write down 3 questions in the comment section to find out more about the experience.

(Note: you can use Facebook, or just a sheet of paper for the two previous activities)

Picasso, Pablo. The Tragedy

1903

CEFR – B1/B2

•  Describe the painting. How do you like it?

•  This is a turning point in these people’s lives. What happened and what is going to happen from now on? Write a story.

•  Was there a turning point in your life (not necessarily a tragedy)? Write what happened and how that affected you.

cefr – c1

•  Imagine and write down what this family's life is like. Tell us about it. We’d like to know all the details (names, jobs, dreams, aspirations, history, fears…)

•  Write a news report based on the picture.

•  Based on the story you wrote, choose one of the characters and describe him/her in detail.

•  (suggestion: play the movie BLACK SWAN directed by Darren Aronofsky, and continue the discussion on art, ambition, celebrity)

Picasso, Pablo Guernica

1937

Cerf – a2

•  Describe the scene.

•  Name everything you can see in the picture and write it down.

•  Tell us what is going on.

•  Tell us how they are feeling.

•  What is the artist trying to say (explain in writing)?

CEFR – B2

•  Describe the painting. How do you like it?

•  Do a short research on Picasso and Guernica on Google. Then write a couple of paragraphs about what you found out, using your own words.

•  Write a short story set against the backdrop of a war (use the steps of process writing for this: pre-writing, drafting, revising editing and publishing.

Thanks!

JORGE SETTE

www.jorgesette.wordpress.com

Twitter: @jorgesetteELT