

A3 - Who is that? Start a family album


Age recommendation
0-6; 6-10

Key words
family matters, writing, doing handicrafts, creativity, vocabulary

Languages of the original source
This activity can be used in any language.

Materials needed
photographs (from a family holiday, celebration etc.), a photo album or digital photo album, glue, marker OR (for parents in a hurry) the family photo album

Aim of the activity

The aim of the activity is to encourage the children to use the family languages
while talking about or describing family members and while creating a photo album together with their siblings and parents. In this way vocabulary related to family activities can be used and joint family experiences remembered. Work on child’s narrative competence*.

Preparation for the activity

To create a photo album you need to have the photos, an album and craft
supplies ready.
Tip (for parents in a hurry) | Look at a (already existing) family album needs no specific preparations for the activity.


To create a photo album:
1. Arrange the photos by letting the children look back at the event retelling their experiences (which supports children narrating*).
2. A writing element can also be included. Together with the children you could create small descriptions or comments about each photo: Who is in the picture? Where has the picture been taken? When? For example, why does Granny wear rubber boots? Why is Dad pointing at the dog?
3. Repeat the activity as often as you want. Use the activity to remember exciting family celebrations.

Alternative | Look at the family album:
1. Search for a moment and a quiet and cosy place inside or outside the house.
2. Sit down with the child and encourage the child to speak by asking questions according to the theme of the photos. The photos offer the opportunity to talk about the people and family members  as well as the event, the colours and the objects in the photo.

Significant benefit of the activity

The activity has a motivating appeal to the children because they can recall events and familiar people and the experiences connected to them. The activity establishes a warm relationship between the child, parent and language learning that is combined with a creative act. The connection between language and a creative process helps the child to memorize vocabulary as well.

Kinaesthetic orientated learners (learners that learn best in combination with movement) can especially gain from this. Using words while doing handicrafts helps to explore new vocabulary (content and language integrated learning CLIL*).

Source of the activity

Multilingual Families Project