Draw Connections Between Texts and Images
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MAP 4th Grade Reading › Draw Connections Between Texts and Images
If a class is reading a non-fiction text about the formation of Earth's layers, why might the author include a graphic like the one below?
The visual will keep the reader's attention since non-fiction texts are often boring.
A visual representation of the information in a data table may help readers better understand what is taking place in the text.
A visual representation will not impact the reader's experience, so it is unnecessary.
The visual will catch the reader's eye and encourage them to read the text about Earth's layers.
Explanation
Many authors will use illustrations, pictures, photographs, diagrams, maps, or other visual text features to help readers understand what they are seeing. If the data and facts like in the data table above are explained in the text, it may not be easy to follow or picture. If the author provides graphic representation, the reader can better understand how the layers are broken up, what they are made of, and their source more clearly. Visuals are a text feature that adds to the text.
Image adapted from The Aesop for children / with pictures by Milo Winter, 1919. Aesop's fable of The Crow and the Pitcher. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://lccn.loc.gov/19014083.
Adapted from Aesop’s The Crow and the Pitcher (620-560 BCE)
In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.
Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble, the water rose a little higher until at last, it was near enough so he could drink.
What is a realistic prediction that can be made about this text based on the illustration?
This text is about a bird, a jar, and rocks. The bird is looking into or dropping rocks into the jar.
This text is about a bird who steals rocks from jars.
This is a text about a bird who laid a giant egg and is protecting it.
This text is about a dangerous storm that has damaged the tree a bird lived in and he is making a new nest of jars and rocks.
Explanation
The bird is looking into or dropping rocks into the jar. Using details from the illustration a prediction can be made regarding what might be written in the text. Things that are known for sure is that there is a bird, a jar, and rocks. It can also be seen that the bird is near the jar and might be utilizing it in some way. It is possible that the bird is dropping the rock in the jar or looking into it based on the body language presenting.
Passage and illustrations adapted from "The Gold-Giving Serpent" in Indian Fairy Tales (ed. Joseph Jacobs, illustrator John D. Batten, 1892 ed.) This story is originally from the Panchatantra by Vishnu Sharma, c. 3rd century BCE.
Image "Common Core Fourth Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.4 - Determine the Meaning of Words and Phrases in a Text, Including Mythology - Image 1" adapted from "The Gold-Giving Serpent" in Indian Fairy Tales (ed. Joseph Jacobs, illustrator John D. Batten, 1892 ed.).
Image "Common Core Fourth Grade CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.4 - Determine the Meaning of Words and Phrases in a Text, Including Mythology - Image 2" adapted from "The Gold-Giving Serpent" in Indian Fairy Tales (ed. Joseph Jacobs, illustrator John D. Batten, 1892 ed.).
ow in a certain place there lived a man named Haridatta. He was a farmer, but poor was the return his labor brought him. One day, at the end of the hot hours, the man, overcome by the heat, lay down under the shadow of a tree to have a doze. Suddenly he saw a great hooded snake creeping out of an ant-hill near at hand. So he thought to himself, "Sure this is the guardian deity of the field, and I have not ever worshipped it. That's why my farming is in vain. I will at once go and pay my respects to it."
When he had made up his mind, he got some milk, poured it into a bowl, and went to the ant-hill, and said aloud: "O Guardian of this Field! All this while I did not know that you dwelt here. That is why I have not yet paid my respects to you; pray forgive me." And he laid the milk down and went to his house. Next morning he came and looked, and he saw a gold denar in the bowl, and from that time onward every day the same thing occurred: he gave milk to the serpent and found a gold denar.
One day the man had to go to the village, and so he ordered his son to take the milk to the ant-hill. The son brought the milk, put it down, and went back home. Next day he went again and found a denar, so he thought to himself: "This ant-hill is surely full of golden denars; I'll kill the serpent, and take them all for myself." So next day, while he was giving the milk to the serpent, the man's son struck it on the head with a cudgel. But the serpent escaped death by the will of fate, and in a rage bit the man's son with its sharp fangs, and he fell down dead at once. His people raised him a funeral pyre not far from the field and burnt him to ashes.
Two days afterwards his father came back, and when he learnt his son's fate he grieved and mourned. But after a time, he took the bowl of milk, went to the ant-hill, and praised the serpent with a loud voice. After a long, long time the serpent appeared, but only with its head out of the opening of the ant-hill, and spoke to the man: "'Tis greed that brings you here, and makes you even forget the loss of your son. From this time forward friendship between us is impossible. Your son struck me in youthful ignorance, and I have bitten him to death. How can I forget the blow with the cudgel? And how can you forget the pain and grief at the loss of your son?" So speaking, it gave the man a costly pearl and disappeared. But before it went away it said: "Come back no more." The man took the pearl, and went back home, cursing the folly of his son.
Based on what we know from the story, what is shown in the bowl in the illustration?
Milk
Honey
Water
A gold denar
A valuable pearl
Explanation
In the illustration, we can see that there is either a liquid in the bowl, or the bowl is white and empty. Neither the answer choice "a gold denar" or "a valuable pearl" can be correct because neither of these are shown in the bowl in the picture. Even if you're not completely sure what a "denar" is, you can tell that this can't be the correct answer because the bowl is shown to contain either a liquid or nothing.
This means that we need to figure out whether the bowl is full of milk, honey, or water. The story provides the answer to this question: paragraph two begins, "When he had made up his mind, he got some milk, poured it into a bowl, and went to the ant-hill, and said aloud: 'O Guardian of this Field! All this while I did not know that you dwelt here. That is why I have not yet paid my respects to you; pray forgive me.' And he laid the milk down and went to his house." Throughout the entire story, the only liquid presented to the snake in the bowl is milk. Thus, "milk" is the correct answer.
Image adapted from The Aesop for children / with pictures by Milo Winter, 1919. Aesop's fable of Belling the Cat. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, <http://read.gov/aesop/003.html>.
Adapted from Aesop’s Belling the Cat (620-560 BCE)
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last, a very young Mouse got up and said: "I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.
All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
How does the image contribute to the story?
The illustration helps readers understand what is happening in the story in more detail.
The illustration tells the entire story so reading the passage isn’t necessary. It basically replaces the passage.
The illustration provides more information than the passage gives so we learn more from an illustration.
The illustration does not help the reader understand anything about the passage.
Explanation
A visual such as an illustration or photograph is a text feature that can assist readers with understanding more about a story. This illustration provides examples of the setting and characters to help readers picture the events and happenings in the passage.
Image adapted from The Aesop for children / with pictures by Milo Winter, 1919. Aesop's fable of The Crow and the Pitcher. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://lccn.loc.gov/19014083.
Adapted from Aesop’s The Crow and the Pitcher (620-560 BCE)
In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.
Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble, the water rose a little higher until at last, it was near enough so he could drink.
How do adding visuals help increase your understanding of the text?
The details from the text come alive in the visual so readers can picture it in their minds.
Visuals include information not written in the passage for us to learn.
Adding visuals does nothing to increase understanding of the text.
Adding visuals to the text gives us secrets that the author can only share in illustrations.
Explanation
When an author includes visuals readers are able to picture the story in their minds almost like a moving picture or movie to create more detail and allow us to understand it more clearly.
Image adapted from The Aesop for children / with pictures by Milo Winter, 1919. Aesop's fable of Belling the Cat. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, <http://read.gov/aesop/003.html>.
Adapted from Aesop’s Belling the Cat (620-560 BCE)
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last, a very young Mouse got up and said: "I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.
All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
If more illustrations were to be included along with the text which one would be the best choice?
The mice holding up a drawing or example of the bell
The cat eating all the mice
The mice holding a vote
The cat sleeping on the windowsill
Explanation
A major event in the story is the mice discussing the bell they are going to place on the cat to hear it coming. An illustration of the bell would give readers more information about the mice’s plan.
Image adapted from The Aesop for children / with pictures by Milo Winter, 1919. Aesop's fable of The Crow and the Pitcher. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://lccn.loc.gov/19014083.
Adapted from Aesop’s The Crow and the Pitcher (620-560 BCE)
In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.
Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble, the water rose a little higher until at last, it was near enough so he could drink.
How could this illustration be changed to include more detail from the passage?
The pitcher could be clear so readers could see the water inside.
The illustration could be in color so it is better to look at it.
The bird could be more detailed and colorful rather than just shaded a dark color.
The pebbles would look nicer so readers would believe the crow would want them.
Explanation
The correct answer choice uses information from the passage and includes a detail that would be useful for the reader. The other answer choices are either not plausible to include in a single illustration or are not details present in the text.
Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea (1835)
Once there was a Prince who wanted to marry a Princess. Only a real one would do. So he traveled through all the world to find her, and everywhere things went wrong. There were Princesses aplenty, but how was he to know whether they were real Princesses? There was something not quite right about them all. So he came home again and was unhappy because he did so want to have a real Princess.
One evening a terrible storm blew up. It lightened and thundered and rained. It was really frightful! In the midst of it all came a knocking at the town gate. The old King went to open it.
Who should be standing outside but a Princess, and what a sight she was in all that rain and wind. Water streamed from her hair down her clothes, into her shoes, and ran out at the heels. Yet she claimed to be a real Princess.
"We'll soon find that out," the old Queen thought to herself. Without saying a word about it, she went to the bedchamber, stripped back the bedclothes, and put just one pea at the bottom of the bed. Then she took twenty mattresses and piled them on the pea. Then she took twenty eiderdown feather beds and piled them on the mattresses. Up on top of all these, the Princess was to spend the night.
In the morning, they asked her, "Did you sleep well?" " Oh!" said the Princess. "No. I scarcely slept at all. Heaven knows what's in that bed. I lay on something so hard that I'm black and blue all over. It was simply terrible."
They could see she was a real Princess and no question about it, now that she had felt one pea all the way through twenty mattresses and twenty more feather beds. Nobody but a Princess could be so delicate. So the Prince made haste to marry her because he knew he had found a real Princess.
As for the pea, they put it in the museum. There it's still to be seen unless somebody has taken it. There, that's a true story.
If, as a reader, you are only able to view the illustrations, what would you predict this story is about?
Most likely, this story is about a queen or princess, maybe someone of royalty.
The illustrations do not help readers predict what the story is about.
This story will most likely be about people who are having issues with candles.
This story is about a lost crown that people are looking for in a bedroom.
Explanation
One of the females seems to be wearing a crown, so it is reasonable to assume she is of some royal standing. The other answer choices make it more difficult to predict from just two simple illustrations.
Image adapted from The Aesop for children / with pictures by Milo Winter, 1919. Aesop's fable of The Crow and the Pitcher. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://lccn.loc.gov/19014083.
Adapted from Aesop’s The Crow and the Pitcher (620-560 BCE)
In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.
Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble, the water rose a little higher until at last, it was near enough so he could drink.
What is the author’s purpose for including this illustration with the passage?
The author added this text feature to enhance the reader’s understanding of the details within the passage.
The author added this text feature to make the book look better.
The author added this text feature to make the story more interesting to the reader.
The author did not choose to add this text feature. Illustrations must be added to stories.
Explanation
When a reader can visualize what is taking place in the story it becomes more realistic and they are able to understand the details within the story on a deeper level.
Image adapted from The Aesop for children / with pictures by Milo Winter, 1919. Aesop's fable of Belling the Cat. Image retrieved from the Library of Congress, <http://read.gov/aesop/003.html>.
Adapted from Aesop’s Belling the Cat (620-560 BCE)
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last, a very young Mouse got up and said: "I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.
All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
What media form would be the least effective for telling this story?
Timeline
Video
Graphic novel
Audiobook
Explanation
Seeing this story put in a video form, a graphic novel, or hearing it read as an audiobook will give readers a clearer picture of the details as well as the characters, tone, and settings. This is a fiction text and not in sequential order so a timeline would be unnecessary and ill-fitting for this type of passage.