Animals and wildlife

Hibiscus Teach · Picture vocabulary

Animals and wildlife

Name familiar animals and small creatures, describe their appearance, and talk about what you see outdoors.

A1–A2British English45–60 minutes · Self-paced

Created by , British English teacher.

Name the pictures, listen and repeat, then try the activities. Reveal words when needed.

Which animals can you already name? Which of these have you seen in real life?

Choose Listen to hear a model. Press a word again to replay, or use Stop audio.

Picture A: Familiar animals

A golden-brown animal with floppy ears, four paws and a curved tail.
1Picture 1
Forms and example

a dog · dogs

We take our dog for a walk every morning.

A sitting grey animal with pointed ears, whiskers and a long tail.
2Picture 2
Forms and example

a cat · cats

The cat is sitting by the window.

A small brown animal with long upright ears and a short tail.
3Picture 3
Forms and example

a rabbit · rabbits

The rabbit has very long ears.

A large brown animal with a long mane, long legs and hooves.
4Picture 4
Forms and example

a horse · horses

There is a horse in the field.

A large black-and-white farm animal with a broad body and an udder.
5Picture 5
Forms and example

a cow · cows

We saw a cow near the gate.

A cream-coloured farm animal with a thick woolly coat.
6Picture 6
Forms and example

a sheep · sheep

There are three sheep on the hill.

A brown farm animal with curved horns and a small beard.
7Picture 7
Forms and example

a goat · goats

The goat is standing beside the fence.

A pink farm animal with a broad snout and a curly tail.
8Picture 8
Forms and example

a pig · pigs

The pig has a curly tail.

A compact bird with a green head, a broad bill and orange webbed feet.
9Picture 9
Forms and example

a duck · ducks

A duck is swimming across the pond.

A large white bird with a long neck and an orange bill.
10Picture 10
Forms and example

a goose · geese

Two geese are walking near the water.

A grey bird with a small head and a shiny green-purple neck.
11Picture 11
Forms and example

a pigeon · pigeons

A pigeon landed on the roof.

A brown bird with a broad face and large forward-facing eyes.
12Picture 12
Forms and example

an owl · owls

We heard an owl after dark.

View full Picture A: Familiar animals poster
Familiar animals: twelve unlabelled illustrations in four columns and three rows. Numbered text descriptions are available immediately below.
Text alternative: describe the pictures
  1. A golden-brown animal with floppy ears, four paws and a curved tail.
  2. A sitting grey animal with pointed ears, whiskers and a long tail.
  3. A small brown animal with long upright ears and a short tail.
  4. A large brown animal with a long mane, long legs and hooves.
  5. A large black-and-white farm animal with a broad body and an udder.
  6. A cream-coloured farm animal with a thick woolly coat.
  7. A brown farm animal with curved horns and a small beard.
  8. A pink farm animal with a broad snout and a curly tail.
  9. A compact bird with a green head, a broad bill and orange webbed feet.
  10. A large white bird with a long neck and an orange bill.
  11. A grey bird with a small head and a shiny green-purple neck.
  12. A brown bird with a broad face and large forward-facing eyes.

Take a break here if you wish.

Picture B: Wildlife and small creatures

A small reddish-brown animal sitting upright with a large bushy tail.
13Picture 13
Forms and example

a squirrel · squirrels

A squirrel ran across the path.

A reddish-orange animal with a pointed muzzle and a white-tipped bushy tail.
14Picture 14
Forms and example

a fox · foxes

We saw a fox near the trees.

A slender brown animal with long legs, hooves and branching antlers.
15Picture 15
Forms and example

a deer · deer

Two deer are standing at the edge of the field.

A small rounded animal with a pointed face and a back covered in short spines.
16Picture 16
Forms and example

a hedgehog · hedgehogs

A hedgehog is moving through the garden.

A small green animal with large eyes and folded back legs.
17Picture 17
Forms and example

a frog · frogs

There is a frog beside the pond.

A land reptile with a high domed shell and short sturdy legs.
18Picture 18
Forms and example

a tortoise · tortoises

The tortoise is walking slowly across the grass.

A small creature with broad orange-and-black wings and two antennae.
19Picture 19
Forms and example

a butterfly · butterflies

A butterfly landed on the flower.

A fuzzy yellow-and-black insect with transparent wings.
20Picture 20
Forms and example

a bee · bees

There is a bee on that flower.

A small dark insect with a narrow waist and two bent antennae.
21Picture 21
Forms and example

an ant · ants

An ant is carrying a tiny piece of food.

A brown creature with long jointed legs and a compact body.
22Picture 22
Forms and example

a spider · spiders

There is a spider in the corner.

A soft-bodied creature with long feelers and a rounded spiral shell.
23Picture 23
Forms and example

a snail · snails

A snail is moving along the wall.

A long pink-brown segmented creature without legs or a shell.
24Picture 24
Forms and example

a worm · worms

We found a worm in the soil.

View full Picture B: Wildlife and small creatures poster
Wildlife and small creatures: twelve unlabelled illustrations in four columns and three rows. Numbered text descriptions are available immediately below.
Text alternative: describe the pictures
  1. A small reddish-brown animal sitting upright with a large bushy tail.
  2. A reddish-orange animal with a pointed muzzle and a white-tipped bushy tail.
  3. A slender brown animal with long legs, hooves and branching antlers.
  4. A small rounded animal with a pointed face and a back covered in short spines.
  5. A small green animal with large eyes and folded back legs.
  6. A land reptile with a high domed shell and short sturdy legs.
  7. A small creature with broad orange-and-black wings and two antennae.
  8. A fuzzy yellow-and-black insect with transparent wings.
  9. A small dark insect with a narrow waist and two bent antennae.
  10. A brown creature with long jointed legs and a compact body.
  11. A soft-bodied creature with long feelers and a rounded spiral shell.
  12. A long pink-brown segmented creature without legs or a shell.

Take a break here if you wish.

Picture clues

Optional: six picture clues

Use the words

One animal, two animals

Use a or an for one animal. Most animal names add -s in the plural. Owl starts with a vowel sound, so use an owl.

A dog. Two dogs. An owl. Two owls.

Sheep, deer and geese

Sheep and deer keep the same form for one or more. The plural of goose is geese.

One sheep. Two sheep. One deer. Two deer. One goose. Two geese.

Describe this picture

Use has for one animal and have for several. Describe what is visible; not every animal of a kind has the same colour or features.

The pictured fox has a bushy tail. The rabbits have long ears.

Say where you saw it

Use saw to talk about a completed sighting. Add a place with in, on, near or beside.

I saw a pigeon on the roof. We saw a frog beside the pond.

Practise: six questions
1. There are two ___ in the field.
2. We saw three ___ near the trees.
3. One goose; two ___.
4. I can see ___ owl.
5. The rabbit ___ long ears.
6. Yesterday, I ___ a fox near my house.

What did you see on your walk?

Listen once for the situation. Listen again and answer. Open the transcript afterwards, then practise both roles.

Read the transcript

Maya: Did you enjoy your walk?

Leo: Yes. I saw two deer near the trees.

Maya: Did you see anything by the pond?

Leo: A duck and two geese. There was a frog beside the water too.

Maya: I saw a squirrel on my way home.

Leo: Was it in a tree?

Maya: No, it was on the path. Then it ran away.

Leo: Next time, let’s take a notebook and write down what we see.

Check understanding: three questions

1. How many deer did Leo see?

Model response

Two.

Leo says, “I saw two deer near the trees.”

2. Which three kinds of animal did Leo see by the pond?

Model response

A duck, geese and a frog.

He mentions a duck, two geese and a frog beside the water.

3. Where did Maya see the squirrel?

Model response

On the path.

She corrects the suggestion that it was in a tree.

You say

Say your answer aloud. Writing is optional. Models are examples; other accurate answers are possible.

Name three animals you recognise and describe one of them.

20–45 seconds, or a shorter response at first

On my own: say your answer aloud, then compare with the model.

Model response

I recognise the dog, the cat and the rabbit. The rabbit has long ears and a short tail.

Describe a real or imagined animal sighting. Say what you saw and where.

20–45 seconds, or a shorter response at first

On my own: say your answer aloud, then compare with the model.

Model response

I saw two geese beside a pond. There was a frog near the water too.

Give a partner two picture clues without saying the animal’s name.

20–45 seconds, or a shorter response at first

On my own: say your answer aloud, then compare with the model.

Model response

It is small and brown. It has a bushy tail. Which animal is it? A squirrel.

Make a wildlife report

Imagine a short walk. Choose six animals from the posters. Tell a partner which you saw, how many there were, and where they were. Your partner asks two questions. A real walk is not necessary.

On my own: play both roles aloud, then answer two follow-up questions.

Success checklist
  • Name six different target animals.
  • Use at least two plural forms correctly.
  • Include places and answer two follow-up questions.
Model response

I saw a dog near the gate, two sheep in a field and a pigeon on a roof. Beside the pond, I saw a duck and a frog. There was a squirrel on the path. “How many sheep?” “Two.” “Where was the frog?” “Beside the pond.”

Check what you know

Eight-question quiz
1. Which pictured animal has a woolly coat?
2. Which pictured bird has a broad face and large forward-facing eyes?
3. Which pictured creature has no legs and no shell?
4. Which pictured animal has a bushy white-tipped tail?
5. Choose the correct phrase.
6. Choose the correct phrase.
7. In the conversation, which animal was on the path?
8. Which request invites a useful description?

Mastery check

Say goose, sheep and deer with two.

Model response

Two geese; two sheep; two deer.

Check all three plural forms.

Describe the pictured owl without naming it.

Model response

It is a brown bird with a broad face and large eyes.

Any accurate description of this illustration is suitable.

Report a sighting using two target animals and a place.

Model response

I saw a duck and a frog beside the pond.

Look for two accurate animal names and a clear place.

Return to the original pictures

Return to Picture A, then Picture B. Hide words, word banks, model answers and previous feedback. Keep the numbers. Name all 24 targets aloud without playing the audio. Then check and replay only the words you missed.

I can name the pictures and use some of these words in a short conversation.

Full British English master
Download the full MP3
Full recording transcript

Welcome to animals and wildlife. Look at the pictures and name the items you recognise. Reveal the words when you are ready. Listen, repeat, and use the words in your own sentences.

Dog. A dog.

Cat. A cat.

Rabbit. A rabbit.

Horse. A horse.

Cow. A cow.

Sheep. One sheep. Two sheep.

Goat. A goat.

Pig. A pig.

Duck. A duck.

Goose. One goose. Two geese.

Pigeon. A pigeon.

Owl. An owl.

Squirrel. A squirrel.

Fox. A fox.

Deer. One deer. Two deer.

Hedgehog. A hedgehog.

Frog. A frog.

Tortoise. A tortoise.

Butterfly. A butterfly.

Bee. A bee.

Ant. An ant.

Spider. A spider.

Snail. A snail.

Worm. A worm.

A dog. Two dogs. An owl. Two owls.

One sheep. Two sheep. One deer. Two deer. One goose. Two geese.

The pictured fox has a bushy tail. The rabbits have long ears.

I saw a pigeon on the roof. We saw a frog beside the pond.

Did you enjoy your walk? Yes. I saw two deer near the trees. Did you see anything by the pond? A duck and two geese. There was a frog beside the water too. I saw a squirrel on my way home. Was it in a tree? No, it was on the path. Then it ran away. Next time, let’s take a notebook and write down what we see.

I recognise the dog, the cat and the rabbit. The rabbit has long ears and a short tail.

I saw two geese beside a pond. There was a frog near the water too.

It is small and brown. It has a bushy tail. Which animal is it? A squirrel.

Well done. Return to the original pictures. Hide the words, name the items, and replay any words you would like to practise.

Use the pictured examples for recognition. The posters are illustrative, not technical diagrams. Learners may describe imaginary experiences.

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