What Do You Look Like? ESL lesson thumbnail
Book 3 · Unit 12Elementary · Ages 8–11

What Do You Look Like?

This describing people ESL lesson develops vocabulary for hair, height, age and other physical features. Students practise using 'is' and 'has', describe classmates and play a speaking-based Guess Who game. They create an Avatar Poster and present a detailed description of a real or imaginary person.

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Lesson format

2 × 45 minutes

Level

Elementary

Age group

Ages 8–11

Main focus

Speaking first

What students will learn

• Describe physical appearance (hair, height, age)
• Use 'have/has' and 'is' correctly in descriptions
• Ask and answer about looks
• Build confidence describing classmates and characters
• Make an Avatar Poster craft
• Practise a Guess Who speaking game

Lesson flow

Children look for classmates matching clues ('someone with short hair'), watch a describing-people song pausing to ask 'Does she have curly hair?', and drill flashcards with a chant ('Is he tall? Yes, he is!'). The second lesson plays Class Guess Who describing a classmate for others to identify, makes an Avatar Poster labelling hair, height and age, and roleplays a Guess Who dialogue in pairs.

Target language

  • • 'What does she look like?'
  • • 'Is he young?' Yes/No
  • • 'Do you have glasses?'
  • • 'Have/has' descriptions

Key vocabulary

  • tall
  • short
  • fat
  • thin
  • slim
  • curly
  • straight
  • dark
  • fair
  • blonde

Speaking questions students answer

  • • What does he look like?
  • • Does she have curly hair?
  • • Is he tall?
  • • Is the man middle-aged?
  • • Do you have glasses?

Recommended teaching contexts

• Elementary ESL and EFL classes• Ages 8–11• Primary school classrooms• Language schools• Private and small-group lessons• Teaching body vocabulary• Pair and whole-class speaking• Interactive whiteboards and online teaching

Why this lesson works

The lesson follows a clear progression: Find classmates matching a description, describe a classmate for others to guess, make an Avatar Poster and play Guess Who. Teachers can open the materials and start immediately, while students move from supported vocabulary practice to purposeful spoken English.

This lesson includes

• Interactive lesson slides
• Teacher guide
• Printable worksheets
• Speaking practice: "What does he look like?"
• Classroom games
• Videos
• Vocabulary practice
• Pair work
• Extension activities

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