Draw & Ask!

🖍️ “Draw & Ask!” – A Fun ESL Drawing & Speaking Activity for Permission and Requests.

🖍️ “Draw & Ask!” – A Fun ESL Drawing & Speaking Activity for Permission and Requests

🖍️ “Draw & Ask!” – A Fun ESL Drawing & Speaking Activity for Permission and Requests

Looking for an engaging speaking activity to practice asking permission aSkill Focus:

• Asking for permission
• Making polite requests
• Speaking and interpreting visual cues

Level: A2 to B1
Group Size: Pairs or small groups
Materials:

• One worksheet per student (two versions: Requests and Permission)
• Scissors
• Pencils/colored pens

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🔧 Preparation:

Before class:

• Print two different worksheets: one with prompts for making requests, and the other for asking permission.
• Each worksheet should have 4–6 prompts (e.g., Ask someone to help you with your bags, Ask if you can use the phone).
• Leave space beside each prompt for students to draw the situation.

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👩‍🏫 Procedure:

1. Warm-Up on the Board

Draw two simple pictures:

• One for asking permission (e.g., student raising a hand in class)
• One for making a request (e.g., someone asking for help carrying groceries)

Ask the class:

“What question do you think this person is asking?”

Elicit answers like:

• Can I go to the bathroom?
• Could you help me, please?

Write example phrases on the board:

• Permission: Can I…? / May I…? / Would it be okay if I…?
• Requests: Could you…? / Would you mind…? / Can you…?

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2. Drawing Time

• Split the class into two groups: Group A and Group B
• Group A gets the Requests Worksheet
• Group B gets the Permission Worksheet

Each student draws a simple scene to represent each phrase or situation on their sheet.

Give them 10–15 minutes. Circulate and support with vocabulary and ideas if needed.

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3. Cut & Swap

• Once finished, students cut out their drawings.
• Pair each Group A student with a Group B student.
• Students swap drawings with their partner.

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4. Guess the Question!

In pairs:

• Each student takes a drawing from their partner’s set and guesses the question their partner intended.
  Example:
  👉 Drawing = Someone holding a door open
  ✅ Guess = “Would you mind holding the door for me?”
• Their partner confirms the correct phrase and gives one point if guessed correctly.
• Continue until all the pictures have been guessed.

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🏁 Wrap-Up:

• Ask a few pairs to share their funniest or most creative pictures and questions.
• Reinforce polite phrases for real-life classroom or workplace use.

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✨ Why This Works:

🧠 Promotes language recall through visual cues

🎨 Students get creative while reinforcing functional language

🗣️ Lots of speaking and listening

🤝 Interactive and peer-led practice

📥 [Download the FREE “Draw and Ask!” Worksheet Here]
(Includes teacher instructions, printable cards, and sample phrases)

DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE

📩 Want more free ESL grammar lesson? Share this post with other teachers and let us know how it worked in your classroom!

💬 What other grammar topics would you like? Drop your ideas in the comments!

More ESL Classroom Games & Activities

Looking for more fun grammar activities for your English class? Check out these ideas:
✅ ESL Speaking Games to improve fluency
✅ Grammar Board Games for practicing sentence structures
✅ Interactive Writing Activities for ESL learners