Search form

Every Picture Tells a Story


Share

Teacher Appreciation graphic

Subjects
  • Arts & Humanities
  • Science

Grades

K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Brief Description

This lesson has students examine unusual pictures, describe their impressions, and create stories around the images.

Objectives

Students
  • observe different pictures and describe what they see both verbally and in writing.
  • create stories based upon these observations.

Keywords

picture, photo, perception, image, composition

Materials Needed

  • student work sheets (provided on site)
  • board, chart paper, or overhead projector and writing tools

Lesson Plan

This lesson from the Center for Educational Resources (CERES) Project is offered in two forms: Every Picture Tells a Story (K-4) and Every Picture Tells a Story (5-12). Both lessons feature a warm-up activity that involves having students work in groups to discuss a simple drawing that may be interpreted in different ways. Their findings are recorded in a table that is provided. The second part of the lesson has students focus on two images of the planet Mars and make similar observations. The culminating activity occurs when students write stories that are based on their observations and read them to the class.

Assessment

The teacher might collect group stories and evaluate them. A satisfactory story will reflect accurate observations students have made of the Mars pictures and contain appropriate content for the classroom. Lesson Plan Source

Center for Educational Resources (CERES) Project

National Standards

FINE ARTS: Visual Arts

  • GRADES K - 4
    NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
    NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

  • GRADES 5 - 8
    NA-VA.5-8.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
    NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

  • GRADES 9 - 12
    NA-VA.9-12.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
    NA-VA.9-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
  • GRADES K - 12
    NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
    NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
    NM-NUM.9-12.3 Compute Fluently and Make Reasonable Estimates
    Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
    NM-MEA.9-12.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
SCIENCE
  • GRADES K - 4
    NS.K-4.4 Earth and Space Science

  • GRADES 5 - 8
    NS.5-8.4 Earth and Space Science

  • GRADES 9 - 12
    NS.9-12.4 Earth and Space Science

Return to the Teacher Appreciation Week lesson plan.

See more lessons for substitute teachers in Education World's Sub Station.

Originally published 5/3/2002
Links last updated 10/04/2006