Activities to Teach Students to Choose the Picture That Matches the Idiomatic Expression
![](https://dev.theedadvocate.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/who_teaches_us_in_school-11-660x400.jpg)
Teaching students the use of idiomatic expressions can be a challenging task for teachers. Understanding the meaning behind the expressions and their figurative language can sometimes be difficult, especially for those learning a new language. However, incorporating fun and interactive activities can help students easily grasp these complex language concepts.
One of the most effective activities for teaching idiomatic expressions is choosing the picture that matches the expression. It helps students to connect the meaning of the expression to the said picture. Below are some activities that can be used in the classroom to teach students how to choose the picture that matches the idiom.
1. Picture Matching Game
This activity is very effective in conveying the meaning behind an idiom. For this exercise, create cards with the idiomatic expression written on one side and a picture representing the expression on the other. Distribute the cards randomly to the students, and ask them to find the matching expression and picture. The student who successfully matches the most expression and picture pairs wins the game.
2. Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles are excellent tools for reinforcing vocabulary retention. Create a crossword puzzle that uses idiomatic expressions as clues. Instead of providing the students with the answers, provide them with a series of pictures that represent the answers. Then students will be required to choose the correct picture for each clue.
3. Poetry with Pictures
Poetry can be a fun way to introduce idioms to students. Create poems that incorporate idiomatic expressions and pair each line with a picture that matches it. The students’ task is to match each picture with its corresponding line of the poem. This helps them understand the meaning behind the idiom and how it fits into the overall text.
4. Idiom Storytelling
This activity involves assigning idiomatic expressions to students and asking them to create a story around the expression they receive. Provide the students with pictures that represent the meaning of their assigned expression. Students then have to use the picture as inspiration for developing a story that appropriately incorporates their idiom.
5. Jigsaw Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles can be an excellent visual learning tool for teaching idiomatic expressions. Use small jigsaw puzzles to represent different expressions, and ask students to form groups based on the puzzle they receive. They will then have to put the pieces of the puzzle together and discuss how the different pieces relate to the idiomatic expression.
In conclusion, incorporating interactive activities that encourage visual learning is an excellent way to teach idiomatic expressions. Through activities like picture matching games, crossword puzzles, poetry with pictures, idiom storytelling, and jigsaw puzzles, students can learn and understand the meaning of idioms by matching them with pictures representing each expression. These activities can help students better retain vocabulary and develop a stronger command of the English language.