What do they look like? Match’em!

Physical Appearance Vocabulary Discovery – A0-A1 Level ESL Activity

Help your A0-A1 students discover the essential vocabulary for describing physical appearance with this interactive, printable, and online-friendly worksheet. This engaging Physical Appearance Vocabulary Discovery activity focuses mainly on the face, but also introduces words for accessories like jewelry, tattoos, and glasses. It’s an ideal resource for helping students master basic descriptive language in a fun, hands-on way.

How It Works:

The worksheet features 5 unique portraits at the top of the page, each showcasing an individual with distinct physical features. Below the portraits, there are 20 basic descriptive phrases, such as “I’ve got straight hair,” “I’m fair-skinned,” “I’ve got a moustache,” “I’m bald,” “I’ve got freckles,” and “I’m wearing makeup.” These descriptions cover common physical features and accessories, providing a broad spectrum of vocabulary for students to work with.

Your students’ task is to match the correct phrase to each portrait, applying the physical appearance vocabulary they’ve just discovered. Some descriptions may match more than one person, so students must pay close attention to the details of each individual’s face and accessories.

Variants for Added Fun and Learning:

1. Pair Challenge Variant: Students work in pairs and discuss which phrases match the portraits. After discussing, they compare their answers with another pair, leading to a classroom discussion about why certain descriptions fit certain individuals. This encourages interaction and deeper exploration of the vocabulary.

2. Police Portrait: In pairs or small groups, have students choose 4-5 descriptors to create an imaginary person while the other must draw what they hear!

3. Vocabulary Quiz Variant: Turn the vocabulary into a quiz where students must match the physical appearance descriptions to a set of statements read aloud by the teacher. This adds a competitive element and improves listening skills.

4. Memory Game Variant: Cut the 20 descriptions and 5 portraits into individual cards. Students take turns picking one portrait card and one description card. They must match them correctly to earn points, and the student with the most correct matches wins.