Picture Composition
AdvancedLook at every picture first, then turn the pictures into one story with sequence words, details and a title.
- Picture composition in four steps: study all pictures → plan the story → link with sequence words → add a title
- Set the scene with the past continuous: Ken was playing football in the park.
- Sequence words: Suddenly, First, Then, Finally — every picture must appear
文體小知識：Turn pictures into a story.
§Text Passage
1Ken's Brave Day
2Last Saturday afternoon, Ken was playing football in the park with his friends. The sun was warm, and the boys were laughing loudly. Ken kicked the ball too hard, and it flew over the fence into the river nearby. At that moment, a small dog ran after the ball and jumped into the water. Its owner, an old lady, was resting on a bench nearby.
3The dog's owner cried for help, and Ken did not think twice. He took off his shoes and swam towards the dog quickly. The water was colder than he expected, and the current was strong. First he caught the dog gently, and then he pushed the ball back to the bank with his foot. Two of his friends pulled them out with a long branch. The old lady thanked Ken again and again, but his new shoes were covered in mud.
4Ken's friends laughed, yet he only smiled because he had saved a life. The old lady bought him a bottle of orange juice, and the dog licked his hand all the way home. Sometimes a small act is worth more than a pair of new shoes. His mother washed the shoes that evening, but the story stayed in his heart for much longer.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Ken's Brave Day
Ken 勇敢的一天
Last Saturday afternoon, Ken was playing football in the park with his friends.
上星期六下午，Ken 和朋友在公園踢足球。
The sun was warm, and the boys were laughing loudly.
陽光暖洋洋，男孩們笑聲不絕。
Ken kicked the ball too hard, and it flew over the fence into the river nearby.
Ken 一腳踢得太用力，球飛過欄杆掉進附近的一條河。
At that moment, a small dog ran after the ball and jumped into the water.
就在那時，一隻小狗追著那球，噗通一聲跳進了水裡。
Its owner, an old lady, was resting on a bench nearby.
牠主人是位婆婆，本來在附近的長椅上休息。
The dog's owner cried for help, and Ken did not think twice.
婆婆大聲喊救命，Ken 想都沒有想。
He took off his shoes and swam towards the dog quickly.
他脫下鞋子，很快地游向那隻狗。
The water was colder than he expected, and the current was strong.
水比他想像中冷，水流又急。
First he caught the dog gently, and then he pushed the ball back to the bank with his foot.
他先輕輕捉住那隻狗，再用腳將球推回岸邊。
Two of his friends pulled them out with a long branch.
他的兩個朋友用一條長樹枝將他們拉了上來。
The old lady thanked Ken again and again, but his new shoes were covered in mud.
婆婆不停地多謝 Ken，但他的新鞋已經沾滿泥漿。
Ken's friends laughed, yet he only smiled because he had saved a life.
朋友們都笑他，但他只是笑笑，因為他救了一條生命。
The old lady bought him a bottle of orange juice, and the dog licked his hand all the way home.
婆婆買了一支橙汁給他，隻狗還一路舔著他的手直到回家。
Sometimes a small act is worth more than a pair of new shoes.
有時一個小舉動，比一對新鞋更有價值。
His mother washed the shoes that evening, but the story stayed in his heart for much longer.
那晚媽媽幫他把鞋洗乾淨，但這件事在他心裡留下了更久。
1Summary 重點摘要
Look at every picture first, then turn the pictures into one story with sequence words, details and a title.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Photo/drawing.
Say what you see.
First, next, then.
Where/when.
Who.
What they do.
How they feel.
How it ends.
3Step by step Steps
- Look at pictureRead each frame: who (Ken and his friends), where (the park), doing what (playing football), plus a small dog and an old lady on a bench.
- SequenceSuddenly / First / Then / Finally glue the frames: Suddenly, a small dog ran after the ball and jumped into the water. First he caught the dog gently, then he pushed the ball back.
- FeelingsEmotions make it human: The old lady thanked Ken again and again… he only smiled because he had saved a life.
- Plan the storyGuess cause and effect: the ball flies over the fence → the dog jumps in → the owner cries for help → Ken swims out. Four pictures = four plot steps.
- Past continuousOpen with the past continuous for background: Ken was playing football in the park with his friends. The sun was warm.
- Add an obstacleThe climax needs trouble: The water was colder than he expected, and the current was strong. His friends pulled them out with a long branch.
- Title and lessonThe title Ken's Brave Day states the theme; close with a thought: Sometimes a small act is worth more than a pair of new shoes.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Task: three pictures — (1) Ken playing football in the park, (2) the ball and a small dog falling into the river, (3) Ken rescuing the dog. Write the story with sequence words.
- Step 1: Study every picture first and plan who / where / what — Ken, the park, the rescue.
- Step 2: Open picture one with the past continuous — Ken was playing football in the park.
- Step 3: Link the pictures with sequence words — Suddenly / First / Then / Finally; every picture must appear.
- Step 4: Add feeling details — The water was colder than he expected… he only smiled.
- Step 5: Finish with a title (Ken's Brave Day) and one closing thought.
- Answer: Last Saturday afternoon, Ken was playing football in the park with his friends. Suddenly, he kicked the ball too hard and it flew over the fence into the river. Then a small dog ran after the ball and jumped into the water. Without thinking, Ken took off his shoes and swam towards the dog. First he caught the dog gently, and then his friends pulled them out with a long branch. The old lady thanked Ken again and again. His new shoes were covered in mud, but he only smiled because he had saved a life.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is picture composition?
Q2What tells the order?
Q3What is setting?
Q4What is action?
Q5What is feeling?
8Recap Recap
- Picture composition in four steps: study all pictures → plan the story → link with sequence words → add a title
- Set the scene with the past continuous: Ken was playing football in the park.
- Sequence words: Suddenly, First, Then, Finally — every picture must appear
- Add details and feelings: The water was colder than he expected.
- Close with one lesson: a small act is worth more than a pair of new shoes