CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.4
The Standard
Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students tell about a person, place, object, or event using details that help listeners picture it. They share their ideas and feelings in a clear, understandable order.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student gives an organized description with accurate details about appearance, actions, setting, or sequence. The student names a feeling or idea and speaks clearly enough for others to understand.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may list unrelated facts or use vague words such as “nice” and “good.” They may name what happened without explaining who, where, or how they felt. Some speak too softly or jump between ideas.
How to Assess It
- Show a picture of a child at a rainy bus stop. Ask each student to describe the person, place, and event using three clear details and one feeling.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Place classroom objects in a mystery bag, then have students choose one and describe its color, shape, texture, and use.
Show a playground photo and ask partners, “What is happening, and which details helped you know?”
Play Detail Detective by having one student describe a picture while classmates identify it from four choices.
Have students role-play reporting a lost item to the school office using details about its appearance and where it was last seen.
Free download
Printable SL.1.4 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Speaking & Listening progression map.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3d
Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.3d
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.3d
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.3d
Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.
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