Becoming a Picture

Students adopt the identity of a person in a portrait photo, flesh out the character's life details, then introduce themselves in role to a partner.

Procedure

1. Give each student a portrait picture (paper or digital). Use interesting-looking people; avoid well-known figures.
2. Tell students they will "become" this person. Allow 20 minutes to flesh out the personality using guidelines (see below). They make notes.
3. Students pair up, show each other their pictures, and introduce themselves as the person in the picture. Partners can ask supplementary questions.
4. Ask for a volunteer (or nominate a student) to be interviewed by the whole class in role.

Character guidelines to display on the board:

The world outside the frame:

• Where was this picture taken? What can be seen outside the frame?
• What things are near? Far? What sort of place is this?
• Are there other people nearby? Why are you there?

The person:

• Name, age, where born, family?
• Where do you live? Occupation?
• What are you most proud of? What do you enjoy most?
• How would you describe your appearance and personality?
• What do you hate most?
• When you leave this place, where will you go?

Tips

• The more specific and detailed the description, the more convincing the character.
• Far more powerful if students speak in first person rather than just describing the person.
• Follow-up: in the next class, groups of four use their characters to develop a dramatized sketch.
• Notes can be extended into a full essay, CV, or personal website.