Make Your Family Activity
Each one opens in a new tab, ready to print.
Words used in these worksheets (17)
baby
brother
brother and sister
brothers
family
father
father and daughter
father and son
grandfather
grandmother
grandparents
mother
mother and daughter
mother and son
parents
sister
sisters
Need different words? Remove words or add more from the full Family set. Your saved custom list is not changed.
More quick worksheets and games
This set doesn't really have a natural question and answer built into the cards, so I teach the vocabulary and play a few practice games first. Then I have students draw a picture of their family. With their own picture in hand, they can ask and answer "Who is she?" "She's my mother."
Family can be a touchy subject in some classes and for some children. Use your judgment about whether to talk about students' own families or use a well-known cartoon family instead. The cards cover the general terms; they aren't meant to show what a family is or should be.
Useful phrases for Family
Pair the vocabulary with one sentence pattern at a time. Each level builds on the one before.
Starting out
First lessons, once students know the words- Who is he? He's my father.
- Who is she? She's my grandmother.
- How many brothers do you have?
Next step
Building on the basics- This is my sister. She likes ___.
- My father plays ___. My mother lives in ___.
- Is he your brother? Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
Challenge
For older or more advanced students- Does your sister like ___?
- My mother has to ___ every day.
- My brother is the boy that is playing soccer.
Teaching tips for Family
Vocabulary first, questions later
With so many similar words (grandmother, grandfather, grandparents), spend time on the vocabulary alone before adding questions. Memory and slap games are good for telling the cards apart.
Watch the pairs and groups
The set includes singles (sister), groups (sisters, parents, grandparents) and pairs (mother and son). It's a natural place to notice plural -s, even before you teach plurals formally.
Give students a choice
Some children have family situations they don't want to share. Letting students choose to draw a real family, an imaginary family or a famous one keeps the activity fun for everyone.
Move to third person
Once students can say who someone is, describe them: "He's my father. He likes baseball." It's natural practice for he, she and the third person -s.
Family lesson ideas
Draw your family
Students draw their family (or an imaginary one), then work in pairs asking "Who is he?" and "Who is she?" about each other's pictures.
Family tree
Build a simple family tree for a famous family or a cartoon family on the board. Students ask and answer "Who is his sister?"
Guess who
One student describes a family member from the flashcards without saying the word: "She's my mother's mother." Classmates guess the card.
A family week
Flashcards and the vocabulary sheet on day 1, word search on day 2, the family drawing activity on day 3, then a board game or bingo to finish.
More Family resources from MES
- Family flashcards large cards, game cards and a handout
- Speaking First Curriculum: Unit 5 how family fits into a full course
- Family online games vocabulary practice for students
All Family images (16)
Click a picture to add it to your worksheet list or take it out. Up to 30 words. Words in your list are shown first.
No images match your search.
Build once. Make everything.
Planning a full unit? The Custom List Maker lets you mix words from any category, save your list, and make 19 different worksheets and games from it all week long.