Overview

This 5-day, 20-minute daily lesson series is designed for 3rd grade students to meet the Common Core standard RI.3.7: “Explain how specific aspects of a text’s illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).” (Note: RI.3.7 also applies to informational text and visual elements like charts and diagrams.) The focus will be on enhancing students’ ability to use illustrations and other visual elements to deepen comprehension and compare texts on the same topic.

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Standards

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1 (Supportive): Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1 (Speaking/Listening): Engage effectively in collaborative discussions.

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Day 1: Visual Clues in Informational Texts

Objective

Students will identify how illustrations in an informational text add meaning to the written content to clarify where, when, and why events happen.

Materials

• Short informational text about a natural event (e.g. volcano eruption or weather phenomena) with clear, colorful diagrams/photographs.
• Worksheet with focused questions about text and illustrations.

Activities

1. Warm-up (3 min)
   Quick discussion: “Have you ever looked at pictures in a book that helped you understand the story or facts better? How?”

2. Read-Aloud with Visual Focus (8 min)
   Teacher reads aloud the chosen text while showing the illustrations.
   Pause to point out and describe key visuals.

3. Think-Pair-Share (5 min)
   Students pair up and answer: “How do the pictures help you understand what is happening in the text?”
   Share answers with class.

4. Worksheet Completion (4 min)
   Students complete 2-3 questions linking the visuals to text meaning.

Assessment

Review worksheet answers and participation in think-pair-share to check understanding of visuals supporting the text.

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Day 2: Comparing Two Texts on the Same Topic

Objective

Students will explain how illustrations from two texts on the same topic differ and what additional information or mood they convey.

Materials

• Two short informational texts on the same subject (e.g., habitats of a butterfly and a bird) with contrasting styles of illustrations.
• Venn diagram worksheet.

Activities

1. Introduction (3 min)
   Explain comparing pictures helps us see more details and understand better.

2. Guided Reading (8 min)
   Read both texts with students, focusing on their illustrations.

3. Class Discussion (4 min)
   Ask: “How do the pictures in the first book look different from the second? What feeling or detail does each set give you?”

4. Venn Diagram (5 min)
   Students fill in how illustrations are similar and different in the two texts.

Assessment

Check Venn diagrams and listen to discussion for comprehension of visual differences and effects.

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Day 3: Exploring Visual Text Features in Nonfiction

Objective

Students will identify visual text features (photos, captions, diagrams) and describe how they support understanding of nonfiction texts.

Materials

• Informational text with various visual features (close-up photos, diagram with labels, captions)
• Interactive journal or digital slide for students to annotate text features.

Activities

1. Mini Lesson (4 min)
   Teacher models identifying visual features and explains their purpose.

2. Group Exploration (9 min)
   In small groups, students examine text features and annotate or list what each adds to the text.

3. Group Share (7 min)
   Groups share and discuss their findings.

Assessment

Participation in group and quality of annotations describing text features’ roles.

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Day 4: Mood and Tone through Illustrations

Objective

Students will analyze how illustrations contribute to mood or tone in a nonfiction or narrative text.

Materials

• Narrative nonfiction text (e.g., biography excerpt or science story) with expressive illustrations.
• Chart paper to make a mood map.

Activities

1. Quick Review (3 min)
   Recap how pictures help us understand facts better.

2. Read & Analyze (7 min)
   Teacher reads aloud the passage, pausing to discuss how pictures make them feel or what mood they create.

3. Mood Map Creation (8 min)
   Students draw or write words describing the mood created by illustration and text together.

4. Share Out (2 min)
   Volunteers share their mood maps.

Assessment

Check mood maps and participation to assess understanding of mood/tone conveyed visually.

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Day 5: Synthesis—Comparing Multiple Visuals & Texts

Objective

Students will synthesize understanding by explaining how different texts and their illustrations on the same topic deepen their comprehension.

Materials

• Same two texts from Day 2 or similar multi-source texts.
• Exit ticket with 2 short-answer questions.

Activities

1. Review & Group Discussion (8 min)
   Discuss how each set of illustrations and text gives different details or feelings.

2. Partner Work (7 min)
   Partners write or share aloud:

   • One new thing they learned because of the pictures.
   • Which set of illustrations helped them understand better and why.

3. Exit Ticket (5 min)
   Students independently answer:

   1. How do pictures help you understand this topic better?
   2. Why is it helpful to look at more than one book or text about something?

Assessment

Exit tickets evaluated for ability to explain the purpose and effect of illustrations across texts.

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Teacher Tips for Engagement

• Use visuals that are vibrant and age-appropriate, including photos, diagrams, and authentic artifacts.
• Encourage use of descriptive language when discussing mood or details.
• Incorporate movement (e.g., think-pair-share or group gallery walks) to keep energy high in short lessons.
• Allow students to express responses visually and verbally, supporting different learning styles.

This detailed and scaffolded lesson plan leverages both texts and illustrations to fully meet RI.3.7 and reinforce key comprehension skills around informational text.