CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.5
The Standard
Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
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 choose or create a visual that helps others understand a spoken description. They include details that match the idea, thought, or feeling they share.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student gives a clear oral description and adds a picture with useful details. The student can explain how the picture helps the listener understand.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may add decorations that do not support what they say. They may also let the picture replace the spoken description or leave out useful details.
How to Assess It
- Ask students to describe a favorite place in two sentences and draw two details that help a listener picture it. Have them explain one chosen detail.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give students a mystery object to observe, describe, and draw with two details that make the description clearer.
Ask pairs to describe a feeling and discuss which facial expression, color, or symbol would help show it.
Play Picture Helper by matching spoken description cards with the visual that best supports each description.
Have students create an illustrated classroom sign that explains where an item belongs and how it should be used.
Free download
Printable SL.1.5 Worksheet

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.5, 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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