How Pictures Help the Story
Aligned to RL.3.7 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Pictures in a story show things the words do not say. They can show how a place looks or how a character feels.
Worked examples
Example 1
The words say 'Sam walked in,' but the picture shows his muddy boots and frown, telling you he had a rough day.
Example 2
The words say 'The house was quiet,' but the picture shows suitcases by the door, so you know someone just left.
Example 3
An illustrator chooses what to show. What they left out of the picture can tell you as much as what they put in.
Practice questions
- Tell one thing a picture shows that the words do not.
- Explain how a picture helps you know how a character feels.
- Describe how a story's mood would change without its pictures.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Cómo Ayudan las Ilustraciones
Las ilustraciones de un cuento muestran cosas que las palabras no dicen. Pueden mostrar cómo es un lugar o cómo se siente un personaje.
Ejemplo 1: Las palabras dicen 'Sam entró', pero la ilustración muestra sus botas llenas de lodo y su ceño fruncido, y así sabes que tuvo un mal día.
Ejemplo 2: Las palabras dicen 'La casa estaba en silencio', pero el dibujo muestra maletas junto a la puerta, así que sabes que alguien acaba de irse.
Ejemplo 3: Un ilustrador escoge qué mostrar. Lo que dejó fuera del dibujo puede decirte tanto como lo que puso.
More Reading: Literature lessons
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